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ERRATA 


* 


In  the  sketch  of  Charles  Henry  McCullough,  on  page338,  para- 
graph 1,  line  1,  the  word  grandson  should  be  substituted  for 
nephew. 

In  the  sketch  of  Frank  C.  Roberts,  on  page  458,  his  mother’s 
name  was  originally  written  Diantha,  instead  of  Darantha. 

In  the  sketch  of  Addison  Thorndyke  Jacques,  the  birthday  of 
Charles  F.  Jacques  should  have  been  written  Oct.  22,  instead  of 
Oct.  17,  and  the  death  of  Mrs.  Amanda  Jacques  should  have  been 
dated  Feb.  1,  1907,  instead  of  1901. 

On  page  220,  second  column,  the  letter  signed  F.  W.  Sterrett, 
should  have  been  S.  W.  Sterrett,  as  written. 

On  page  373,  in  sketch  of  Charles  W.  Tobey,  the  date  of  the 
Bible  should  have  been  printed  1534,  instead  of  1634. 

In  the  sketch  of  Dr.  Joseph  W.  Means,  on  page  495,  the  press 
pulled  out  the  figure  "1”  in  the  year  1916  in  the  fifth  line,  and  the 
letter  “n”  in  the  seventh  line  in  the  word  "in.” 

Page  338,  paragraph  1,  lines  3 and  4,  in  the  sketch  of  Charles 
Henry  McCullough,  instead  of  Elisabeth  it  should  be  Elizabeth. 

On  page  473,  second  column,  line  seven,  the  figures  1786 
should  be  su bstituted  for  1876. 


Note — My  friends  are  especially , requested  to  inform  me  of 
any  errors  they  may  discover  in  Parts  I.  and  II.  of  this  history  to 
the  end  that  the  proper  correction  be  made  in  Part  III.  Unspar- 
ing criticism  is  invited  to  the  same  end. 


Note — I was  determined  from  the  beginning,  as  set  lorth  in 
the  prospectus,  to  keep  the  portraits  of  cheap  men,  for  purely 
monetary  considerations,  from  becoming  a feature  of  this  work. 
I have  decided,  however,  to  place  very  a few  portraits  of  living  men 
whose  character  and  work  give  guarantee  that  they  will  not 
figure  in  transactions  of  an  unsavory  character.  The  only  excep- 
tion made  to  our  first  rule,  in  our  first  520  pages,  is  that  of  C.  W. 
Cookson,  on  page  518. 


\ J 


V » 


>-5 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES— 1787 


We,  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in 
Order  to  form  a more  perfect  Union,  es- 
tablish Justice,  insure  domestic  Tranquil- 
ity, provide  for  the  common  defence, 
promote  the  general  Welfare,  and  secure 
the  Blessings  of  Liberty  to  ourselves  and 
our  Posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this 
Constitution  for  the  United  States  of 
America. 

Article  I 

Section  1.  All  legislative  Powers  herein 
granted  shall  be  vested  in  a Congress  of 
the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives. 

Sec.  2.  The  House  of  Representatives 
shall  be  composed  of  Members  chosen 
every  second  Year  by  the  People  of  the 
several  States,  and  the  Electors  in  each 
State  shall  have  the  Qualifications  requis- 
ite for  Electors  of  the  most  numerous 
Branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

Sec.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United 
States  shall  be  composed  of  two  Senators 
from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  Legislature 
thereof,  for  six  Years;  and  each  Senator 
shall  have  one  Vote. 

Sec.  4.  The  Times,  Places  and  Manner 
of  holding  Elections  for  Senators  and  Rep- 
resentatives, shall  be  prescribed  in  each 
State  by  the  Legislature  thereof;  but  the 
Congress  may  at  any  time  by  Law 
make  or  alter  such  Regulations,  except  as 
to  the  Places  of  choosing  Senators. 

Sec.  5.  Each  House  shall  be  the  Judge 
of  the  Elections,  Returns  and  Qualifica- 
tions of  its  own  Members,  and  a Majority 
of  each  shall  constitute  a Quorum  to  do 
Business;  but  a smaller  Number  may  ad- 
[161] 


journ  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  au- 
thorized to  compel  the  Attendance  of  Ab- 
sent Members,  in  such  Manner,  and  under 
such  Penalties  as  each  House  may  provide. 

Sec.  6.  The  Senators  and  Representa- 
tives shall  receive  a Compensation  for 
their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  Law, 
and  paid  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States.  They  shall  in  all  Cases,  except 
Treason,  Felony  and  Breach  of  the  Peace, 
be  privileged  from  Arrest  during  their  at- 
tendance at  the  Session  of  their  respective 
Houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  the  same ; and  for  any  Speech  or  De- 
bate in  either  House,  they  shall  not  be 
questioned  in  any  other  Place. 

Sec.  7.  All  Bills  for  raising  Revenue 
shall  originate  in  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives; but  the  Senate  may  propose  or 
concur  with  Amendments  as  on  other  bills. 

Sec.  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  Power 
To  lay  and  collect  Taxes,  Duties,  Imposts 
and  Excises,  to  pay  the  Debts  and  provide 
for  the  common  Defence  and  general  Wel- 
fare of  the  United  States;  but  all  Duties, 
Imposts  and  Excises  shall  be  uniform 
throughout  the  United  States ; 

Section  9.  The  Migration  or  Importa- 
tion of  such  Persons  as  any  of  the  States 
now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit, 
shall  not  be  prohibited  by  the  Congress 
prior  to  the  Year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eight,  but  a Tax  or  Duty  may  be 
imposed  on  such  Importation,  not  exceed- 
ing ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

Sec.  10.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any 
Treaty,  Alliance,  or  Confederation;  grant 
Letters  of  Marque  or  Reprisal ; coin 


162 


HISTORY  OP  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Money;  emit  Bills  of  Credit;  make  any 
Thing  but  gold  and  silver  Coin  a Tender 
in  Payment  of  Debts ; pass  any  Bill  of  At- 
tainder, ex  post  facto  Law,  or  Law  im- 
pairing the  Obligation  of  Contracts,  or 
grant  any  Title  of  Nobility. 

Article  II 

Section  1.  The  executive  Power  shall 
be  vested  in  a President  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  Office 
during  the  Term  of  four  Years,  and,  to- 
gether with  the  Vice  President,  chosen  for 
the  same  Term,  be  elected,  as  follows : 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  Man- 
ner as  the  Legislature  thereof  may  direct, 
a Number  of  Electors,  equal  to  the  whole 
Number  of  Senators  and  Representatives 
to  which  the  State  may  be  entitled  in  the 
Congress:  but  no  Senator  or  Representa- 
tive, or  Person  holding  an  Office  of  Trust 
or  Profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be 
appointed  an  Elector. 

Sec.  2.  The  President  shall  be  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of 
the  United  States,  and  of  the  Militia  of  the 
several  States,  when  called  into  the  actual 
Service  of  the  United  States;  he  may  re- 
quire the  Opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  prin- 
cipal Officer  in  each  of  the  executive  De- 
partments, upon  any  Subject  relating  to 
the  Duties  of  their  respective  Offices,  and 
he  shall  have  Power  to  grant  Reprieves 
and  Pardons  for  Offenses  against  the 
United  States,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeach- 
ment. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give 
to  the  Congress  Information  of  the  State 
of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  Con- 
sideration such  Measures  as  he  shall  judge 
necessary  and  expedient;  he  may,  on  ex- 
traordinary Occasions,  convene  both 
Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  Case  of 
Disagreement  between  them,  with  Respect 
to  the  Time  of  Adjournment,  he  may  ad- 
journ them  to  such  Time  as  he  shall  think 
proper;  he  shall  receive  Ambassadors  and 
other  public  Ministers ; he  shall  take  Care 


that  the  Laws  be  faithfully  executed,  and 
shall  Commission  all  the  Officers  of  the 
United  States. 

Sec.  4.  The  President,  Vice  President 
and  all  civil  Officers  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  removed  from  Office  on  Impeach- 
ment for,  and  Conviction  of,  Treason, 
Bribery,  or  other  high  Crimes  and  Mis- 
demeanors. 

Article  III 

Section  1.  The  judicial  Power  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  vested  in  one  su- 
preme Court,  and  in  such  inferior  Courts 
as  the  Congress  may  from  time  to  time 
ordain  and  establish.  The  Judges,  both  of 
the  supreme  and  inferior  Courts,  shall 
hold  their  Offices  during  good  Behavior, 
and  shall,  at  stated  Times,  receive  for 
their  Services,  a Compensation,  which 
shall  not  be  diminished  during  their  Con- 
tinuance in  Office. 

Sec.  2.  The  judicial  Power  shall  extend 
to  all  Cases,  in  Law  and  Equity,  arising 
under  this  Constitution,  the  Laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  Treaties  made,  or 
which  shall  be  made,  under  their  author- 
ity;— to  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors, 
other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls; — to 
all  Cases  of  admirality  and  maritime  Jur- 
isdiction;— to  Controversies  to  which  the 
United  States  shall  be  a Party; — to  Con- 
troversies between  two  or  more  States; 
— between  a State  and  Citizens  of  another 
State ; — between  Citizens  of  different 
States ; — between  Citizens  of  the  same 
State  claiming  Lands  under  Grants  of  dif- 
ferent States,  and  between  a State,  or  the 
Citizens  therof,  and  foreign  States,  Citi- 
zens or  Subjects. 

Sec.  3.  Treason  against  the  United 
States,  shall  consist  only  in  levying  War 
against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  En- 
emies, giving  them  Aid  and  Comfort.  No 
Person  shall  be  convicted  of  Treason  un- 
less on  the  Testimony  of  two  Witnesses  to 
the  same  overt  Act,  or  on  Confession  in 
open  Court. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


163 


Article  IV 

Section  1.  Full  Faith  and  Credit  shall 
be  given  in  each  State  to  the  public  Acts, 
Records,  and  judicial  Proceedings  of  every 
other  tSate.  And  the  Congress  may  by 
general  Laws  prescribe  the  Manner  in 
which  such  Acts,  Records  and  Proceedings 
shall  be  proved,  and  the  Effect  therof. 

Sec.  2.  The  Citizens  of  each  State  shall 
be  entitled  to  all  Privileges  and  Immunities 
of  Citizens  in  the  several  States. 

Section  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted 
by  the  Congress  into  this  Union;  but  no 
new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected 
within  the  Jurisdiction  of  any  other  State; 
nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  Junction  of 
two  or  more  States,  or  Parts  of  States, 
without  the  Consent  of  the  Legislatures  of 
the  States  concerned  as  well  as  of  the  Con- 
gress. 

Sec.  4.  The  United  States  shall  guar- 
antee to  every  State  in  this  Union  a Re- 
publican Form  of  Government,  and  shall 
protect  each  of  them  against  Invasion; 
and  on  Application  of  the  Legislature,  or 
of  the  Executive  (when  the  Legislature 
can  not  be  convened)  against  domestic 
Violence. 

Article  V 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of 
both  Houses  shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall 
propose  Amendments  to  this  Constitution, 
or,  on  the  Application  of  the  Legislatures 
of  two-thirds  of  the  several  States,  shall 
call  a Convention  for  proposing  Amend- 
ments, which,  in  either  Case,  shall  be  valid 
to  all  Intents  and  Purposes,  as  Part  of  this 
Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  Legisla- 
tures of  three-fourths  of  the  several 
States,  or  by  Conventions  in  three-fourths 
thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  Mode  of 
Ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  Con- 
gress ; Provided  that  no  Amendment  which 
may  be  made  prior  to  the  Year  One  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in  any 
Manner  effect  the  first  and  fourth  Clauses 
in  the  Ninth  Section  of  the  first  Article; 
and  that  no  State,  without  its  Consent, 


shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  Suffrage  in 
the  Senate. 

Article  VI 

All  Debts  contracted  and  Engagements 
entered  into,  before  the  Adoption  of  this 
Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the 
United  States  under  this  Constitution,  as 
under  the  Confederation. 

Article  VII 

The  Ratification  of  the  Conventions  of 
nine  States,  shall  be  sufficient  for  the  Es- 
tablishment of  this  Constitution  between 
the  States  so  ratifying  the  Same. 

Done  in  Convention  by  the  Unanimous 
Consent  of  the  States  present  the  Seven- 
teenth Day  of  September  in  the  Year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousands  seven  hundred  and 
Eighty  seven,  and  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America  the  Twelfth. 
In  Witness  whereof  We  have  hereunto 
subscribed  our  Names, 

G° : WASHINGTON— 
Presidt.  and  Deputy  from  Virginia 

New  Hampshire 

John  Langdon, 

Nicholas  Gilman. 

Massachusetts 
Nathaniel  Gorham, 

Rufus  King. 

Connecticutt 
Wm.  Sami.  Johnson, 

Roger  Shermau. 

New  York 
Alexander  Hamilton. 

New  Jersey 
Wil:  Ligingston, 

David  Brearley, 

Wm.  Paterson, 

Jona:  Dayton. 

Delaxvarc 

Geo:  Read, 

Gunning  Bedford,  Jun., 

John  Dickinson, 

Richard  Bassett, 

Jaco:  Broom. 


164 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Pennsylvania 
B.  Franklin, 

Thomas  Mifflin, 

Robt.  Morris, 

Geo.  Clymer, 

Thos.  Fitzsimons, 

Jared  Ingersoll, 

James  Wilson, 

Gouv  Morris. 

Maryland 
James  McHenry, 

Dan  of  St.  Thos.  Jenifer, 

Danl.  Carroll. 

Virginia 

John  Blair, 

James  Madison,  Jr. 

North  Carolina 
Wm.  Blount, 

Richd.  Dobbs  Spaight, 

Hu  Williamson. 

South  Carolina 
J.  Rutledge, 

Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney, 

Charles  Pinckney, 

Pierce  Butler. 

Georgia 

William  Few, 

Abr.  Baldwin, 

Attest:  WILLIAM  JACKSON.  Sec’y. 

Articles  in  addition  to,  and  amendment 
of,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  proposed  by  Congress,  and  rat- 
ified by  the  Legislatures  of  the  several 
States  pursuant  to  the  fifth  article  of  the 
original  Constitution. 

Article  I 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting 
an  establishment  of  religion,  or  prohibit- 
ing the  free  exercise  thereof ; or  abridging 
the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press ; or 
the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to  assem- 


ble, and  to  petition  the  Government  for  a 
redress  of  grievances. 

Article  II 

A well  regulated  Militia,  being  neces- 
sary to  the  security  of  a free  State,  the 
right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  Arms, 
shall  not  be  infringed. 

Article  III 

No  Soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace  be 
quartered  in  any  house,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  Owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but 
in  a manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Article  IV 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in 
their  persons,  houses,  papers,  and  effects, 
against  unreasonable  searches  and  seiz- 
ures, shall  not  be  violated,  and  no  War- 
rants shall  issue,  but  upon  probable  cause, 
supported  by  Oath  or  affirmation,  and  par- 
ticularly describing  the  place  to  be  search- 
ed, and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  siezed. 

Article  V 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for 
a capital,  or  otherwise  infamous  crime, 
unless  on  a presentment  or  indictment  of  a 
Grand  Jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the 
land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  Militia, 
when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  War  or 
public  danger;  nor  shall  any  person  be 
subject  for  the  same  offense  to  be  twice 
put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb;  nor  shall 
be  compelled  in  any  Criminal  Case  to  be  a 
witness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived  of 
life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  pro- 
cess of  law;  nor  shall  private  property  be 
taken  for  public  use,  without  just  com- 
pensation. 

Articli  VI 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused 
shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a speedy  and 
public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the 
State  and  district  wherein  the  crime  shall 
have  been  committed,  which  district  shall 
have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law, 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


165 


and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and 
cause  of  the  accusation;  to  be  confronted 
with  the  witnesses  against  him;  to  have 
compulsory  process  for  obtaining  Wit- 
nesses in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  Assist- 
ance of  Counsel  for  his  defence. 

Article  VII 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value 
of  controversy  shall  exceed  twenty  dollars, 
the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  pre- 
served, and  no  fact  tried  by  a jury  shall 
be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  Court  of 
the  United  States,  than  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  common  law. 

Article  VIII 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required, 
nor  excessive  fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and 
unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

Article  IX 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of 
certain  rights,  shall  not  be  construed  to 
deny  or  disparge  others  retained  by  the 
people. 

Article  X 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United 
States  by  the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited 
by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to  the 
States  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

Article  XI 

The  Judicial  power  of  the  United  States 
shall  not  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit 
in  law  or  equity,  commenced  or  prose- 
cuted against  one  of  the  United  States  by 
Citizens  of  another  State,  or  by  Citizens  or 
Subjects  of  any  Foreign  State. 

Article  XII 

The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respec- 
tive states,  and  vote  by  ballot  for  President 
and  Vice-President,  one  of  whom,  at  least, 
shall  not  be  inhabitant  of  the  same  state 
with  themselves ; they  shall  name  in  their 
ballots  the  person  voted  for  as  President, 
and  in  distinct  ballot  the  person  voted  for 
as  President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for 
as  Vice-President,  and  of  the  number  of 


votes  for  each,  which  lists  they  shall  sign 
and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the 
seat  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the 
Senate ; — The  President  of  the  Senate 
shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate'  and 
House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  cer- 
tificates and  the  votes  shall  then  be 
counted ; — The  person  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  for  President,  shall  be 
the  President,  if  such  number  be  a 
majority  of  the  whole  number  of 
Electors  appointed ; and  if  no  person  have 
such  majority,  then  from  the  persons  hav- 
ing the  highest  numbers  not  exceeding 
three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as  Pres- 
ident, the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  Presi- 
dent. But  in  choosing  the  President,  the 
votes  shall  be  taken  by  states,  the  repre- 
sentation from  each  state  having  one  vote ; 
a quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of 
a member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of 
the  states,  and  a majority  of  all  the  states 
shall  be  necessary  to  a choice.  And  if  the 
House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose 
a President  whenever  the  right  of  choice 
shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the  fourth 
day  of  March  next  following,  then  the 
Vice-President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  death  or  other  constitu- 
tional disability  of  the  President.  The 
person  having  the  greatest  number  of 
votes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be  the  Vice- 
President,  if  such  number  be  a majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed, 
and  if  no  person  have  a majority,  then 
from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list, 
the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice-President ; 
a quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of 
two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  Sena- 
tors, and  a majority  of  the  whole  number 
shall  be  necessary  to  a choice.  But  no 
person  constitutionally  ineligible  to  the 
office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to  that 
of  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

Article  XIII 

Section  1.  Neither  slavery  nor  involun- 


166 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


untary  servitude,  except  as  a punishment 
for  crime  whereof  the  party  shall  have 
been  duly  convicted,  shall  exist  within  the 
United  States,  or  any  place  subject  to  their 
jurisdiction. 

Sec.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to 
enforce  this  article  by  appropriate  legis- 
lation. 

Article  XIV 

Section  1.  All  persons  born  or  natural- 
ized in  the  United  States,  and  subject  to 
the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of 
the  United  States  and  of  the  State  wherein 
they  reside.  No  State  shall  make  or  en- 
force any  law  which  shall  abridge  the 
privileges  or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States ; nor  shall  any  State  deprive 
any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property, 
without  due  process  of  law;  nor  deny  to 
any  person  within  its  jurisdiction  the  equal 
protection  of  the  laws. 

Sec.  2.  Representatives  shall  be  appor- 
tioned among  the  several  States  according 
to  their  respective  numbers,  counting  the 
whole  number  of  persons  in  each  State,  ex- 
cluding Indians  not  taxed.  But  when  the 
right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice 
of  electors  for  President  and  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  Representatives 
in  Congress,  the  Executive  and  Judicial 
officers  of  a State,  or  the  members  of  the 
Legislature  thereof,  is  denied  to  any  of  the 
male  inhabitants  of  such  State,  being 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  or  in  any  way  abridged, 
except  for  participation  in  rebellion,  or 
other  crime,  the  basis  of  representation 
therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion 
which  the  number  of  such  male  citizens 
shall  bear  to  the  whole  number  of  male 
citizens  twenty-one  years  of  age  in  such 
State. 


Sec.  3.  No  person  shall  be  a Senator  or 
Representative  in  Congress,  or  elector  of 
President  and  Vice  President,  or  hold  any 
office,  civil  or  military,  under  the  United 
States,  or  under  any  State,  who,  having 
previously  taken  an  oath,  as  a member  of 
Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the  United 
States,  or  as  a member  of  any  State  leg- 
islature, or  as  an  executive  or  judicial 
officer  of  any  State,  to  support  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  shall  have  en- 
gaged in  insurrection  or  rebellion  against 
the  same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the 
enemies  thereof.  But  Congress  may  by  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  House,  remove 
such  disability. 

Sec.  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt 
of  the  United  States,  authorized  by  law, 
including  debts  incurred  for  payment  of 
pensions  and  bounties  for  services  in  sup- 
pressing insurrection  or  rebellion,  shall 
not  be  questioned.  But  neither  the 
United  States  nor  any  State  shall  assume 
or  pay  any  debt  or  obligation  incurred  in 
aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the 
United  States,  or  any  claim  for  the  loss 
or  emancipation  of  any  slave ; but  all  such 
debts,  obligations  and  claims  shall  be  held 
illegal  and  void. 

Sec.  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power 
to  enforce,  by  appropriate  legislation,  the 
provisions  of  this  article. 

Article  XV 

Section  1.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States  to  vote  shall  not  be  denied  or 
abridged  by  the  United  States  or  by  any 
State  on  account  of  race,  color,  or  previous 
condition  of  servitude. 

Sec.  2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power 
to  enforce  this  article  by  appropriate  leg- 
islation. 


I 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  ORDINANCE  OF  1787 


Section  1.  Be  it  ordained  by  the  United 
States  in  Co?igress  assembled,  That  the 
said  territory,  for  the  purpose  of  tempo- 
rary government,  be  one  district,  subject, 
however,  to  be  divided  into  two  districts, 
as  future  circumstances  may,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  Congress,  make  it  expedient. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  That  the  estates  both  of  resi- 
dent and  non-resident  proprietors  in  the 
said  territory,  dying  intestate,  shall  de- 
scend to,  and  be  distributed  among,  their 
children  and  the  descendants  of  a deceased 
child  in  equal  parts,  the  descendants  of  a 
deceased  child  or  grandchild  to  take  the 
share  of  their  deceased  parent  in  equal 
parts  among  them ; and  where  there  shall 
be  no  children  or  descendants,  then  in 
equal  parts  to  be  next  of  kin,  in  equal  de- 
gree; and  among  collaterals,  the  children 
of  a deceased  brother  or  sister  of  the  inte- 
state shall  have,  in  equal  parts  among 
them,  their  deceased  parent’s  share;  and 
there  shall,  in  no  case,  be  a distinction 
between  kindred  of  the  whole  and  half 
blood ; saving  in  all  cases  to  the  widow  of 
the  intestate,  her  third  part  of  the  real 
estate  for  life,  and  one-third  part  of  the 
personal  estate;  and  this  law  relative  to 
descents  and  dower,  shall  remain  in  full 
force  until  altered  by  the  legislature  of  the 
district.  And  until  the  governor  and 
judges  shall  adopt  laws  as  hereinafter 
mentioned,  estates  in  the  said  territory 
may  be  devised  or  bequeathed  by  wills  in 
writing,  signed  and  sealed  by  him  or  her  in 
whom  the  estate  may  be,  (being  of  full 
age),  and  attested  by  three  witnesses;  and 

[167] 


real  estates  may  be  conveyed  by  lease  and 
release,  or  bargain  and  sale,  signed,  sealed, 
and  delivered  by  the  person,  being  of  full 
age,  in  whom  the  estate  may  be,  and  at- 
tested by  two  witnesses,  provided  such 
wills  be  duly  proved,  and  such  conveyances 
be  acknowledged,  or  the  execution  thereof 
duly  proved,  and  be  recorded  within  one 
year  after  proper  magistrates,  courts,  and 
registers,  shall  be  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose ; and  personal  property  may  be  trans- 
ferred by  delivery,  saving,  however,  to  the 
French  and  Canadian  inhabitants,  and 
other  settlers  of  the  Kaskaskies,  Saint  Vin- 
cent, and  the  neighboring  villages,  who 
have  hertofore  professed  themselves  citi- 
zens of  Virginia,  their  laws  and  customs 
now  in  force  among  them,  relative  to  the 
descent  and  conveyance  of  property. 

Sec.  3.  Be  it  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  That  there  shall  be  appointed, 
from  time  to  time,  by  Congress,  a gover- 
nor, whose  commission  shall  continue  in 
force  for  the  term  of  three  years,  unless 
sooner  revoked  by  Congress;  he  shall  re- 
side in  the  district,  and  have  a freehold  es- 
tate therein,  in  one  thousand  acres  of  land, 
while  in  the  exercise  of  his  office. 

Sec.  4.  There  shall  be  appointed  from 
time  to  time,  by  Congress,  a secretary, 
whose  commisison  shall  continue  in  force 
for  four  years,  unless  sooner  revoked ; he 
shall  reside  in  the  district,  and  have  a free- 
hold estate  therein,  in  five  hundred  acres 
of  land,  while  in  the  exercise  of  his  office. 
It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  and  preserve 
the  acts  and  laws  passed  by  the  legislature, 
and  the  public  records  of  the  district,  and 


16S 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  proceedings  of  the  governor  in  his  ex- 
ecutive department,  and  transmit  authen- 
tic copies  of  sucn  acts  and  proceedings 
every  six  months  to  the  Secretary  of  Con- 
gress. There  shall  also  be  appointed  a 
court,  to  consist  of  three  judges,  any  two 
of  whom  to  form  a court,  who  shall  have 
a common-law  jurisdiction,  and  reside  in 
the  district,  and  have  each  therein  a free- 
hold estate,  in  five  hundred  acres  of  land, 
while  in  the  exercise  of  their  offices;  and 
their  commissions  shall  continue  in  force 
during  good  behavior. 

Sec.  5.  The  governor  and  judges,  or  a 
majority  of  them,  shall  adopt  and  publish 
in  the  district  such  laws  of  the  original 
States,  criminal  and  civil,  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, and  best  suited  to  the  circumstances 
of  the  district,  and  report  them  to  Con- 
gress from  time  to  time,  which  laws  shall 
be  in  force  in  the  district  until  the  organ- 
ization of  the  general  assembly  therein, 
unless  disapproved  of  by  Congress;  but 
afterwards  the  legislature  shall  have  au- 
thority to  alter  them  as  they  shall  think  fit. 

Sec.  6.  The  governor,  for  the  time  be- 
ing, shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the 
militia,  appoint  and  commission  all  officers 
in  the  same  below  the  rank  of  general  offi- 
cers ; all  general  officers  shall  be  appointed 
and  commissioned  by  Congress. 

Sec.  7.  Previous  to  the  organization  of 
the  general  assembly  the  governor  shall 
appoint  such  magistrates,  and  other  civil 
officers,  in  each  county  or  township,  as  he 
shall  find  necessary  for  the  preservation 
of  the  peace  and  good  order  in  the  same. 
After  the  general  assembly  shall  be  organ- 
ized the  powers  and  duties  of  magistrates 
and  other  civil  officers  shall  be  regulated 
and  defined  by  the  said  assembly;  but  all 
magistrates  and  other  civil  officers,  not 
herein  otherwise  directed,  shall,  during  the 
continuance  of  this  temporary  govern- 
ment, be  appointed  by  the  governor. 

Sec.  8.  For  the  prevention  of  crimes 
and  injuries,  the  laws  to  be  adopted  or 
made  shall  have  force  in  all  parts  of  the 
district,  and  for  the  execution  of  process, 


criminal  and  civil,  the  governor  shall  make 
proper  divisions  thereof ; and  he  shall  pro- 
ceed, from  time  to  time,  as  circumstances 
may  require,  to  lay  out  the  parts  of  the  dis- 
trict in  which  the  Indian  titles  shall  have 
been  extinguished,  into  counties  and  town- 
ships, subject,  however,  to  such  alterations 
as  may  thereafter  be  made  by  the  legis- 
lature. 

Sec.  9.  So  soon  as  there  shall  be  five 
thousand  free  male  inhabitants,  of  full  age, 
in  the  district,  upon  giving  proof  thereof 
to  the  governor  they  shall  receive  authority 
with  time  and  place,  to  elect  representa- 
tives from  their  counties  or  townships,  to 
represent  them  in  the  general  assembly: 
Provided,  That  for  every  five  hundred  free 
male  inhabitants  there  shall  be  one  repre- 
sentative, and  so  on,  progressively,  with 
the  number  of  free  male  inhabitants,  shall 
the  right  of  representation  increase,  until 
the  number  of  representatives  shall 
amount  to  twenty-five;  after  which  the 
number  and  proportion  of  representatives 
shall  be  regulated  by  the  legislature : Pro- 
vided, That  no  person  be  eligible  or  quali- 
fied to  act  as  a representative,  unless  he 
shall  have  been  a citizen  of  one  of  the 
United  States  three  years,  and  be  a resi- 
dent in  the  district,  or  unless  he  shall  have 
resided  in  the  district  three  years ; and,  in 
either  case,  shall  likewise  hold  in  his  own 
right,  in  fee-simple,  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  within  the  same : Provided  also,  That 
a freehold  in  fifty  acres  of  land  in  the  dis- 
trict, having  been  a citizen  of  one  of  the 
States,  and  being  resident  in  the  district, 
or  the  like  freehold  and  two  years’  resi- 
dence in  the  district,  shall  be  necessary  to 
qualify  a man  as  an  elector  of  a represen- 
tative. 

Sec.  10.  The  representatives  thus 
elected  shall  serve  for  the  term  of  two 
years ; and  in  case  of  the  death  of  a repre- 
sentative, or  removal  from  office,  the  gov- 
ernor shall  issue  a writ  to  the  county  or 
township,  for  which  he  was  a member,  to 
elect  another  in  his  stead,  to  serve  for  the 
residue  of  the  term. 


THE^ORDINANCE  OF  1787 


169 


Sec.  11.  The  general  assembly,  or  legis- 
lature, shall  consist  of  the  governor,  legis- 
lative council,  and  a house  of  representa- 
tives. The  legislative  council  shall  consist 
of  five  members,  to  continue  in  office  five 
years,  unless  sooner  removed  by  Congress ; 
any  three  of  whom  to  be  a quorum ; and  the 
members  of  the  council  shall  be  nominated 
and  appointed  in  the  following  manner,  to 
wit:  As  soon  as  represtatives  shall  be 

elected  the  governor  shall  appoint  a time 
and  place  for  them  to  meet  together,  and 
when  met  they  shall  nominate  ten  persons, 
resident  in  the  district,  and  each  possessed 
of  a freehold  in  five  hundred  acres  of  land, 
and  return  their  names  to  Congress,  five  of 
whom  Congress  shall  appoint  and  commis- 
sion to  serve  as  aforesaid;  and  whenever 
a vacancy  shall  happen  in  the  council,  by 
death  or  removal  from  office,  the  house  of 
representatives  shall  nominate  two  per- 
sons, qualified  as  aforesaid,  for  each  va- 
cancy, and  return  their  names  to  Congress, 
one  of  whom  Congress  shall  appoint  and 
commission  for  the  residue  of  the  term; 
and  every  five  years,  four  months  at  least 
before  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  service 
of  the  members  of  the  council,  the  said 
house  shall  nominate  ten  persons,  qualified 
as  aforesaid,  and  return  their  names  to 
Congress,  five  of  whom  Congress  shall  ap- 
point and  commission  to  serve  as  members 
of  the  council  five  years,  unless  sooner  re- 
moved. And  the  governor,  legislative 
council,  and  house  of  representatives  shall 
have  authority  to  make  laws  in  all  cases 
for  the  good  government  of  the  district, 
not  repugnant  to  the  principles  and  arti- 
cles in  this  ordinance  established  and  de- 
clared. And  all  bills,  having  passed  by  a 
majority  in  the  house,  and  by  a majority 
in  the  council,  shall  be  referred  to  the  gov- 
ernor for  his  assent;  but  no  bill,  or  legis- 
lative act  whatever,  shall  be  of  any  force 
without  his  assent.  The  governor  shall 
have  power  to  convene,  prorogue,  and  dis- 
solve the  general  assembly  when,  in  his 
opinion,  it  shall  be  expedient. 

Sec.  12.  The  governor,  judges,  legisla- 


tive council,  secretary,  and  such  other 
officers  as  Congress  shall  appoint  in  the 
district,  shall  take  an  oath  or  affirmation 
of  fidelity,  and  of  office;  the  governor  be- 
fore the  President  of  Congress,  and  all 
other  officers  before  the  governor.  As 
soon  as  a legislature  shall  be  formed  in  the 
district,  the  council  and  house  assembled, 
in  one  room,  shall  have  authority,  by  joint 
ballot,  to  elect  a delegate  to  Congress,  who 
shall  have  a seat  in  Congress,  with  a right 
of  debating,  but  not  of  voting,  during  this 
temporary  government. 

Sec.  13.  And  for  extending  the  funda- 
mental principles  of  civil  and  religious  lib- 
erty, which  form  the  basis  whereon  these 
republics,  their  laws  and  constitutions, 
are  erected ; to  fix  and  establish  those  prin- 
ciples as  the  basis  of  all  laws,  constitu- 
tions, and  governments,  which  forever 
hereafter  shall  be  formed  in  the  said  terri- 
tory; to  provide,  also,  for  the  establish- 
ment of  States,  and  permanent  govern- 
ment therein,  and  for  their  admission  to  a 
share  in  the  Federal  councils  on  an  equal 
footing  with  the  original  States,  at  as  early 
periods  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  gen- 
eral interest: 

Sec.  14.  It  is  hereby  ordained  and  de- 
clared, by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the 
following  articles  shall  be  considered  as 
articles  of  compact,  between  the  original 
States  and  the  people  and  States  in  the 
said  territory,  and  forever  remain  unalter- 
able, unless  by  common  consent,  to  wit  : 

Article  I 

No  person,  demeaning  himself  in  a 
peaceable  and  orderly  manner,  shall  ever 
be  molested  on  account  of  his  mode  of 
worship,  or  religious  sentiments,  in  the 
said  territories. 

Article  II 

The  inhabitants  of  the  said  territory 
shall  always  be  entitled  to  the  benefits  of 
the  writs  of  habeas  corpus,  and  of  the  trial 
by  jury;  of  a proportionate  representation 
of  the  people  in  the  legislature,  and  of  ju- 


170 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


dicial  proceedings  according  to  the  course 
of  the  common  law.  All  persons  shall  be 
bailable,  unless  for  capital  offences,  where 
the  proof  shall  be  evident,  or  the  presump- 
tion great.  All  fines  shall  be  moderate; 
and  no  cruel  or  unusual  punishments  shall 
be  inflicted.  No  man  shall  be  deprived  of 
his  liberty  or  property,  but  by  the  judg- 
ment of  his  peers,  or  the  law  of  the  land, 
and  should  the  public  exigencies  make  it 
necessary,  for  the  common  preservation, 
to  take  any  person’s  property,  or  to  de- 
mand his  particular  services,  full  compen- 
sation shall  be  made  for  the  same.  And, 
in  the  just  preservation  of  rights  and  prop- 
erty, it  is  understood  and  declared,  that 
no  law  ought  ever  to  be  made  or  have  force 
in  the  said  territory,  that  shall,  in  any 
manner  whatever,  interfere  with  or  affect 
private  contracts  or  engagements,  bona 
fide,  and  without  fraud  previously  formed. 

Article  III 

Religion,  morality,  and  knowledge  be- 
ing necessary  to  good  government  and  the 
happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the 
means  of  education  shall  forever  be  en- 
couraged. The  utmost  good  faith  shall 
always  be  observed  towards  the  Indians; 
their  lands  and  property  shall  never  be 
taken  from  them  without  their  consent; 
and  in  their  property,  rights,  and  liberty 
they  never  shall  be  invaded  or  disturbed, 
unless  in  just  and  lawful  wars  authorized 
by  Congress;  but  laws  founded  in  justice 
and  humanity  shall,  from  time  to  time,  be 
made,  for  preventing  wrongs  being  done 
to  them,  and  for  preserving  peace  and 
friendship  with  them. 

Article  IV 

The  said  territory,  and  the  States  which 
may  be  formed  therein,  shall  forever  re- 
main a part  of  this  confederacy  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  subject  to  the 
Articles  of  Confederation,  and  to  such  al- 
terations therein  as  shall  be  constitution- 
ally made;  and  to  all  the  acts  and  ordi- 
nances of  the  United  States  in  Congress 


assembled,  conformable  thereto.  The  in- 
habitants and  settlers  in  the  said  territory 
shall  be  subject  to  pay  a part  of  the  Fed- 
eral debts,  contracted,  or  to  be  contracted, 
and  a proportional  part  of  the  expenses  of 
government  to  be  apportioned  on  them  by 
Congress,  according  to  the  same  common 
rule  and  measure  by  which  apportion- 
ments thereof  shall  be  made  on  the  other 
States ; and  the  taxes  for  paying  their  pro- 
portion shall  be  laid  and  levied  by  the  au- 
thority and  direction  of  the  legislatures  of 
those  districts,  or  new  States,  shall  never 
interfere  with  the  primary  disposal  of  the 
soil  by  the  United  States  in  Congress  as- 
sembled. The  legislatures  of  those  dis- 
tricts, or  new  States,  shall  never  interfere 
with  the  primary  disposal  of  the  soil  by  the 
United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  nor 
with  any  regulations  Congress  may  find 
necessary  for  securing  the  title  in  such  soil 
to  the  bona  fide  purchasers.  No  tax  shall 
be  imposed  on  lands  the  property  of  the 
United  States;  and  in  no  case  shall  non- 
resident proprietors  be  taxed  higher  than 
residents.  The  navigable  waters  leading 
into  the  Mississippi  and  Saint  Lawrence, 
and  the  carrying  places  between  the  same, 
shall  be  common  highways,  and  forever 
free,  as  well  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
territory  as  to  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  and  those  of  any  other  States  that 
may  be  admitted  into  the  confederacy, 
without  any  tax,  impost,  or  duty  therefor. 

ARTICLE  V. 

There  shall  be  formed  in  the  said  terri- 
tory not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  five 
States;  and  the  boundaries  of  the  States, 
as  soon  as  Virginia  shall  alter  her  act  of 
cession  and  consent  to  the  same,  shall  be- 
come fixed  and  established  as  follows,  to 
wit : The  western  State,  in  the  said  terri- 
tory, shall  be  bounded  by  the  Mississippi, 
the  Ohio,  and  the  Wabash  Rivers;  a direct 
line  drawn  from  the  Wabash  and  Post  Vin- 
cents, due  north,  to  the  territorial  line  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Canada ; and 
by  the  said  territorial  line  to  the  Lake  of 


THE  ORDINANCE  OF  1787 


171 


the  Woods  and  Mississippi.  The  middle 
State  shall  be  bounded  by  the  said  direct 
line,  the  Wabash  from  Post  Vincents  to 
the  Ohio,  by  the  Ohio,  by  a direct  line 
drawn  due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Miami  to  the  said  territorial  line, 
and  by  the  said  territorial  line.  The  east- 
ern State  shall  be  bounded  by  the  last- 
mentioned  direct  line,  the  Ohio,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  said  territorial  line:  Pro- 
vided,however,  And  it  is  further  understood 
and  declared,  that  the  boundaries  of  these 
three  States  shall  be  subject  so  far  to  be 
altered,  that,  if  Congress  shall  hereafter 
find  it  expedient,  they  shall  have  authority 
to  form  one  or  two  States  in  that  part  of 
the  said  territory  which  lies  north  of  an 
east  and  west  line  drawn  through  the 
southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan. And  whenever  any  of  the  said  States 
shall  have  sixty  thousand  free  inhabitants 
therein,  such  State  shall  be  admitted,  by  its 
delegates,  into  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  on  an  equal  feeting  with  the  origi- 
nal States,  in  all  respects  whatever;  and 
shall  be  at  liberty  to  form  a permanent 
constitution  and  State  government:  Pro- 
vided, The  constitution  and  government,  so 
to  be  formed,  shall  be  republican,  and  in 


conformity  to  the  principles  contained  in 
these  articles,  and,  so  far  as  it  can  be  con- 
sistent with  the  general  interest  of  the  con- 
federacy, such  admission  shall  be  allowed 
at  an  earlier  period,  and  when  there  may 
be  a less  number  of  free  inhabitants  in 
the  State  than  sixty  thousand. 

Article  VI. 

There  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  invol- 
untary servitude  in  the  said  territory, 
otherwise  than  in  the  punishment  of 
crimes,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been 
duly  convicted : Provided  always,  That  any 
person  escaping  into  the  same,  from  whom 
labor  or  service  is  lawfully  claimed  in  any 
one  of  the  original  States,  such  fugitive 
may  be  lawfully  reclaimed,  and  conveyed 
to  the  person  claiming  his  or  her  labor  or 
service  as  aforesaid. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, That  the  resolutions  of  the  23d  of 
April,  1784,  relative  to  the  subject  of  this 
ordinance,  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  re- 
pealed, and  declared  null  and  void. 

Done  by  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  the  13th  day  of  July,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1787,  and  of  their  sovereignty 
and  independence  the  twelfth. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
grateful  to  Almighty  God  for  our  free- 
dom, to  secure  its  blessings  and  promote 
our  common  welfare,  do  establish  this  Con- 
stitution. 

Article  I 
Bill  of  Rights. 

Section  1.  All  men  are,  by  nature,  free 
and  independent,  and  have  certain  inalien- 
able rights,  among  which  are  those  of  en- 
joying and  defending  life  and  liberty,  ac- 
quiring, possessing,  and  protecting  prop- 
erty, and  seeking  and  obtaining  happiness 
and  safety.  (See  Cont.  1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 

I.) 

Sec.  2.  All  political  power  is  inherent 
in  the  people.  Government  is  instituted 
for  their  equal  protection  and  benefit,  and 
they  have  the  right  to  alter,  reform,  or 
abolish  the  same,  whenever  they  may  deem 
it  necessary;  and  no  special  privileges  or 
immunties  shall  ever  be  granted,  that  may 
not  be  altered,  revoked,  or  repealed  by  the 
general  assembly.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art. 
VIII,  § I.) 

Sec.  3.  The  people  have  the  right  to  as- 
semble together,  in  a peaceable  manner, 
to  consult  for  their  common  good;  to  in- 
struct their  representatives;  and  to  peti- 
tion the  general  assembly  for  the  redress 
of  grievances.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art. 
VIII.  § 19.) 

Sec.  4.  The  people  have  the  right  to 
bear  arms  for  their  defense  and  security ; 
but  standing  armies,  in  time  of  peace,  are 
dangerous  to  liberty,  and  shall  not  be  kept 
up ; and  the  military  shall  be  in  strict  sub- 
ordination to  the  civil  power.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 20.) 

Sec.  5.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall 
be  inviolate,  ecxept  that,  in  civil  cases, 
[172] 


laws  may  be  passed  to  authorize  the  ren- 
dering of  a verdict  by  the  concurrence  of 
not  less  than  three-fourths  of  the  jury. 
(As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  6.  There  shall  be  no  slavery  in  this 
State;  nor  involuntary  servitude,  unless 
for  the  punishment  of  crime.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  VIII,  §2.) 

Sec.  7.  All  men  have  a natural  and  in- 
defeasible right  to  worship  Almighty  God 
according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  con- 
science. No  person  shall  be  compelled  to 
attend,  erect,  or  support  any  place  of  wor- 
ship, or  maintain  any  form  of  worship, 
against  his  consent;  and  no  preference 
shall  be  given,  by  law,  to  any  religious 
society;  nor  shall  any  interference  with 
the  rights  of  conscience  be  permitted.  No 
religious  test  shall  be  required,  as  a qual- 
ification for  office,  nor  shall  any  person  be 
incompetent  to  be  a witness  on  account  of 
his  religious  belief;  but  nothing  herein 
shall  be  construed  to  dispense  with  oaths 
and  affirmations.  Religion,  morality,  and 
knowledge,  however,  being  essential  to 
good  government,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  General  Assembly  to  pass  suitable  laws 
to  protect  every  religious  denomination  in 
the  peaceable  enjoyment  of  its  own  mode 
of  public  worship,  and  to  encourage  schools 
and  the  means  of  instruction.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  VIII,  §§  3,  25.) 

Sec.  8.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  ha- 
beas corpus  shall  not  be  suspended,  unless, 
in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the  public 
safety  require  it.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art. 
VIII,  § 12.) 

Sec.  9.  All  persons  shall  be  bailable  by 
sufficient  sureties,  except  for  capital  of- 
fences where  the  proof  is  evident  or  the 
presumption  great.  Excessive  bail  shall 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


173 


not  be  required;  nor  excessive  fines  im- 
posed ; nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments 
inflicted.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII, 
§§  12,  13.) 

Sec.  10.  Except  in  cases  of  impeach- 
ment, cases  arising  in  the  army  and  navy, 
or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual  service  in 
time  of  war  or  public  danger,  and  cases 
involving  offenses  for  which  the  penalty 
provided  is  less  than  imprisonment  in  the 
penitentiary,  no  person  shall  be  held  to 
answer  for  a capital,  or  other  infamous, 
crime,  unless  on  presentment  or  indict- 
ment of  a grand  jury;  and  the  number  of 
persons  necessary  to  constitute  such  grand 
jury  and  the  number  thereof  necessary  to 
concur  in  finding  such  indictment  shall  be 
determined  by  law.  In  any  trial,  in  any 
court,  the  party  accused  shall  be  allowed 
to  appear  and  defend  in  person  and  with 
counsel;  to  demand  the  nature  and  cause 
of  the  accusation  against  him,  and  to  have 
a copy  thereof ; to  meet  the  witness  face 
to  face,  and  to  have  compulsory  process  to 
procure  the  attendance  of  witnesses  in  his 
behalf,  and  a speedy  public  trial  by  an  im- 
partial jury  of  the  county  in  which  the 
offense  is  alleged  to  have  been  committed ; 
but  provision  may  be  made  by  law  for  the 
taking  of  the  deposition  by  the  accused  or 
by  the  State,  to  be  used  for  or  against  the 
accused,  of  any  witness  whose  attendance 
cannot  be  had  at  the  trial,  always  securing 
to  the  accused  means  and  the  opportunity 
to  be  present  in  person  and  with  counsel 
at  the  taking  of  such  deposition,  and  to 
examine  the  witness  face  to  face  as  fully 
and  in  the  same  manner  as  if  in  court.  No 
person  shall  be  compelled,  in  any  criminal 
case,  to  be  a witness  against  himself ; but 
his  failure  to  testify  may  be  considered  by 
the  court  and  jury  and  may  be  made  the 
subject  of  comment  by  counsel.  No  per- 
son shall  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  for  the 
same  offense.  (As  amended  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  11.  Every  citizen  may  freely  speak, 
write,  and  publish  his  sentiments  on  all 


subjects,  being  responsible  for  the  abuse 
of  the  right ; and  no  law  shall  be  passed  to 
restrain  or  abridge  the  liberty  of  speech, 
or  of  the  press.  In  all  criminal  prosecu- 
tions for  libel,  the  truth  may  be  given  in 
evidence  to  the  jury,  and  if  it  shall  appear 
to  the  jury,  that  the  matter  charged  as 
libelous  is  true,  and  was  published  with 
good  motives,  and  for  justifiable  ends,  the 
party  shall  be  acquitted.  See  Const.  1802, 
Art  VIII,  § 6.) 

Sec.  12.  No  person  shall  be  transported 
out  of  the  State,  for  any  offense  committed 
within  the  same;  and  no  conviction  shall 
work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture  of 
estate.  ( See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII, 

§§  16,  17.) 

Sec.  13.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of 
peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house,  without 
the  consent  of  the  owner;  nor,  in  time  of 
war,  except  in  the  manner  prescribed  by 
law.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 22.) 

Sec.  14.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be 
secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers, 
and  possessions,  against  unreasonable 
searches  and  seizures  shall  not  be  violated ; 
and  no  warrant  shall  issue,  but  upon  prob- 
able cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirma- 
tion, particularly  describing  the  place  to 
be  searched  and  the  person  and  things  to 
be  seized.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII, 
§ 5.) 

Sec.  15.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned 
for  debt  in  any  civil  action,  on  mesne  or 
final  process,  unless  in  cases  of  fraud. 
(See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 15.) 

Sec.  16.  All  courts  shall  be  open  and 
every  person,  for  an  injury  done  him  in  his 
land,  goods,  person,  or  reputation,  shall 
have  remedy  by  due  course  of  law,  and 
shall  have  justice  administered  without 
denial  or  delay.  Suits  may  be  brought 
against  the  State,  in  such  courts  and  in 
such  manner,  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 
(As  Amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  17.  No  hereditary  emoluments, 
honors,  or  privileges,  shall  ever  be  granted 


174 


HISTORY  OP  MIAMI  COUNTY 


or  conferred  by  this  State.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 24.) 

Sec.  18.  No  power  of  suspending  laws 
shall  ever  be  exercised,  except  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly.  ( See  Const.  1802,  Art. 
VIII,  § 9.) 

Sec.  19.  Private  property  shall  ever  be 
held  inviolate,  but  subservient  to  the  public 
welfare.  When  taken  in  time  of  war  or 
other  public  exigency,  imperatively  requir- 
ing its  immediate  seizure  or  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  or  repairing  roads,  which 
shall  be  open  to  the  public,  without  charge, 
a compensation  shall  be  made  to  the  owner, 
in  money,  and  in  all  other  cases,  where 
private  property  shall  be  taken  for  public 
use,  a compensation  therefor  shall  first  be 
made  in  money,  or  first  secured  by  a de- 
posit of  money;  and  such  compensation 
shall  be  assessed  by  a jury,  without  deduc- 
tion for  benefits  to  any  property  of  the 
owner.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 4.) 

Sec.  19a.  The  amount  of  damages  re- 
coverable by  civil  action  in  the  courts  for 
death  caused  by  the  wrongful  act,  neglect, 
or  default  of  another,  shall  not  be  limited 
by  law.  (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  20.  This  enumeration  of  rights 
shall  not  be  construed  to  impair  or  deny 
others  retained  by  the  people ; and  all  pow- 
ers, not  herein  delegated,  remain  with  the 
people.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII,  § 28.) 

Article  II 

Sec.  1.  The  legislative  power  of  the 
State  shall  be  vested  in  a General  Assem- 
bly consisting  of  a Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives,  but  the  people  reserve  to 
themselves  the  power  to  propose  to  the 
General  Assembly  laws  and  amendments 
to  the  constitution,  and  to  adopt  or  reject 
the  same  at  the  polls  on  a referendum  vote 
as  hereinafter  provided.  They  also  re- 
serve the  power  to  adopt  or  reject  any  law, 
section  of  any  law,  or  any  item  in  any  law 
appropriating  money  passed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  except  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, and  independent  of  the  General 


Assembly  to  propose  amendments  to  the 
constitution  and  to  adopt  or  reject  the 
same  at  the  polls.  The  limitations  ex- 
pressed in  the  constitution,  on  the  power 
of  the  General  Assembly  to  enact  laws, 
shall  be  deemed  limitations  on  the  power 
of  the  people  to  enact  laws.  (As  amended 
September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  la.  The  first  aforestated  power 
reserved  by  the  people  is  designated  the 
initiative  and  the  signatures  of  ten  per 
centum  of  the  electors  shall  be  required 
upon  a petition  to  propose  an  amendment 
to  the  constitution.  When  a petition 
signed  by  the  aforesaid  required  number 
of  electors,  shall  have  been  filed  with  the 
secretary  or  state,  and  verified  as  herein 
provided,  proposing  an  amendment  to  the 
constitution,  the  full  text  of  which  shall 
have  been  set  forth  in  such  petition,  the 
secretary  of  state  shall  submit  for  the  ap- 
proval or  rejection  of  the  electors,  the  pro- 
posed amendment,  in  the  manner  herein- 
after provided,  at  the  next  succeeding  reg- 
ular or  general  election  in  any  year  occur- 
ing  subsequent  to  ninety  days  after  the 
filing  of  such  petition.  The  initiative  pe- 
titions, above  described,  shall  have  printed 
across  the  top  thereof:  “Amendment  to 
the  Constitution  Proposed  by  Initiative 
Petition  to  be  Submitted  Directly  to  the 
Electors.”  (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  lb.  When  at  any  time,  not  less 
than  ten  days  prior  to  the  commencement 
of  any  session  of  the  general  assembly, 
there  shall  have  been  filed  with  the  secre- 
tary of  state  a petition  signed  by  three  per 
centum  of  the  electors  and  verified  as 
herein  provided,  proposing  a law,  the  full 
text  of  which  shall  have  been  set  forth 
in  such  petition,  the  secretary  of  state 
shall  transmit  the  same  to  the  general  as- 
sembly as  soon  as  it  convenes.  If  said 
proposed  law  shall  be  passed  by  the  gen- 
eral asembly,  either  as  petitioned  for  or  in 
an  amended  form,  it  shall  be  subject  to 
the  referendum.  If  it  shall  not  be  passed, 
or  if  it  shall  be  passed  in  an  amended 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


175 


form,  or  if  no  action  shall  be  taken  there- 
on within  four  months  from  the  time  it  is 
received  by  the  general  assembly,  it  shall 
be  submitted  by  the  secretary  of  state  to 
the  electors  for  their  approval  or  rejection 
at  the  next  regular  or  general  election, 
if  such  submission  shall  be  demanded  by 
supplementary  petition  verified  as  herein 
provided  and  signed  by  not  less  than 
three  per  centum  of  the  electors  in  addi- 
tion to  those  signing  the  original  petition, 
which  supplementary  petition  must  be 
signed  and  filed  with  the  secretary  of 
state  within  ninety  days  after  the  pro- 
posed law  shall  have  been  rejected  by  the 
general  assembly  or  after  the  expiration  of 
such  term  of  four  months,  if  no  action  has 
been  taken  thereon,  or  after  the  law  as 
passed  by  the  general  assembly  shall  have 
been  filed  by  the  governor  in  the  office  of 
the  secretary  of  state.  The  proposed  law 
shall  be  submitted  in  the  form  demanded 
by  such  supplementary  petition,  which 
form  shall  be  either  as  first  petitioned  for 
or  with  any  amendment  or  amendments 
which  may  have  been  incorporated  therein 
by  either  branch  or  by  both  branches  of 
the  general  assembly.  If  a proposed  law 
so  submitted  is  approved  by  a majority  of 
the  electors  voting  thereon,  it  shall  be  the 
law  and  shall  go  into  effect  as  herein 
provided  in  lieu  of  any  amended  form  of 
said  law  which  may  have  been  passed  by 
the  general  assembly,  and  such  amended 
law  passed  by  the  general  assembly  shall 
not  go  into  effect  until  and  unless  the  law 
proposed  by  supplementary  petition  shall 
have  been  rejected  by  the  electors.  All 
such  initiative  petitions,  last  above  de- 
scribed, shall  have  printed  across  the  top 
thereof,  in  case  of  proposed  laws:  “Law 
Proposed  by  Initiative  Petition  First  to 
be  Submitted  to  the  General  Assembly.” 
Ballots  shall  be  so  printed  as  to  permit  an 
affirmative  or  negative  vote  upon  each 
measure  submitted  to  the  electors.  Any 
proposed  law  or  amendment  to  the  consti- 
tution submitted  to  the  electors  as  pro- 
vided in  section  la  and  section  lb,  if  ap- 
proved by  a majority  of  the  electors  voting 


thereon,  shall  take  effect  thirty  days  after 
the  election  at  which  it  was  approved  and 
shall  be  published  by  the  secretary  of 
state.  If  conflicting  proposed  laws  or  con- 
flicting proposed  amendments  to  the  con- 
stitution shall  be  approved  at  the  same 
election  by  a majority  of  the  total  number 
of  votes  cast  for  and  against  the  same, 
the  one  receiving  the  highest  number  of 
affirmative  votes  shall  be  the  law,  or  in  the 
case  of  amendments  to  the  constitution 
shall  be  the  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion. No  law  proposed  by  initiative  peti- 
tion and  approved  by  the  electors  shall  be 
subject  to  the  veto  of  the  governor. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  lc.  The  second  aforestated  power 
reserved  by  the  people  is  designated  the 
referendum,  and  the  signatures  of  six 
per  centum  of  the  electors  shall  be  received 
upjon  a petition  to  order  the  submission 
to  the  electors  of  the  state  for 
their  approval  or  rejection,  of  any  law, 
section  of  any  law  or  any  item  in  any  law 
appropriating  money  passed  by  the  gen- 
eral assembly.  No  law  passed  by  the  gen- 
eral assembly  shall  go  into  effect  until 
ninety  days  after  it  shall  have  been  filed 
by  the  governor  in  the  office  of  the  secre- 
tary of  state,  except  as  herein  provided. 
When  a petition,  signed  by  six  per  centum 
of  the  electors  of  the  state  and  verified  as 
herein  provided,  shall  have  been  filed  with 
the  secretary  of  state  within  ninety  days 
after  any  law  shall  have  been  filed  by  the 
governor  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
state,  ordering  that  such  law,  section  of 
such  law  or  any  item  in  such  law  appro- 
priating money  be  submitted  to  the  elec- 
tors of  the  state  for  their  approval  or 
rejection,  the  secretary  of  state  shall  sub- 
mit to  the  electors  of  the  state  for  their 
approval  or  rejection  such  law,  section  or 
item,  in  the  manner  herein  provided,  at 
the  next  succeeding  regular  or  general 
election  in  any  year  occurring  subsequent 
to  sixty  days  after  the  filing  of  such  peti- 
tion, and  no  such  law,  section  or  item  shall 
go  into  effect  until  and  unless  approved 
by  a majority  of  those  voting  upon  the 


176 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


same.  If,  however,  a referendum  petition 
is  filed  against  any  such  section  or  item, 
the  remainder  of  the  law  shall  not  thereby 
be  prevented  or  delayed  from  going  into 
effect.  (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  Id.  Laws  providing  for  tax  levies, 
appropriations  for  the  current  expenses  of 
the  state  government  and  state  institu- 
tions, and  emergency  laws  necessary  for 
the  immediate  preservation  of  the  public 
peace,  health  or  safety,  shall  go  into  imme- 
diate effect.  Such  emergency  laws  upon 
a yea  and  nay  vote  must  receive  the  vote 
of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  elected  to 
each  branch  of  the  general  assembly,  and 
the  reasons  for  such  necessity  shall  be  set 
forth  in  one  section  of  the  law,  which  sec- 
tion shall  be  passed  only  upon  a yea  and 
nay  vote,  upon  a separate  roll  call  there- 
on. The  laws  mentioned  in  this  section 
shall  not  be  subject  to  the  referendum. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  le.  The  powers  defined  herein  as 
the  “initiative”  and  “referendum”  shall 
not  be  used  to  pass  a law  authorizing  any 
classification  of  property  for  the  purpose 
of  levying  different  rates  of  taxation 
thereon  or  of  authorizing  the  levy  of  any 
single  tax  on  land  or  land  values  or  land 
sites  at  a higher  rate  or  by  a different  rule 
than  is  or  may  be  applied  to  improvements 
thereon  or  to  personal  property.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  If.  The  initiative  and  referendum 
powers  are  hereby  reserved  to  the  people 
of  each  municipality  on  all  questions 
which  such  municipalities  may  now  or 
hereafter  be  authorized  by  law  to  control 
by  legislative  action ; such  powers  shall  be 
exercised  in  the  manner  now  or  hereafter 
provided  by  law.  (Adopted  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  Ig.  Any  initiative,  supplementary 
or  referendum  petition  may  be  presented 
in  separate  parts,  but  each  part  shall  con- 
tain a full  and  correct  copy  of  the  title  and 
text  of  the  law,  section  or  item  thereof 
sought  to  be  referred,  or  the  proposed  law 


or  proposed  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion. Each  signer  of  any  initiative,  sup- 
plementary or  referendum  petition  must 
be  an  elector  of  the  state  and  shall  place  on 
such  petition  after  his  name  the  date  of 
signing  and  his  place  of  residence.  A 
signer  residing  outside  of  a municipality 
shall  state  the  township  and  county  in 
which  he  resides.  A resident  of  a munici- 
pality shall  state  in  addition  to  the  name 
of  such  municipality,  the  street  and  num- 
ber, if  any,  of  his  residence  and  the  ward 
and  precinct  in  which  the  same  is  located. 
The  names  of  all  signers  to  such  petitions 
shall  be  written  in  ink,  each  signer  for 
himself.  To  each  part  of  such  petition 
shall  be  attached  the  affidavit  of  the  per- 
son soliciting  the  signatures  to  the  same, 
which  affidavit  shall  contain  a statement 
of  the  number  of  the  signers  of  such  part 
of  such  petition  and  shall  state  that  each 
of  the  signatures  attached  to  such  part 
was  made  in  the  presence  of  the  affiant 
that  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge  and  be- 
lief each  signature  on  such  part  is  the  gen- 
uine signature  of  the  person  whose  name 
it  purports  to  be,  that  he  believes  the  per- 
sons who  have  signed  it  to  be  electors,  that 
they  so  signed  said  petition  with  knowl- 
edge of  the  contents  thereof,  that  each 
signer  signed  the  same  on  the  date  stated 
opposite  his  name;  and  no  other  affidavit 
thereto  shall  be  required.  The  petition 
and  signatures  upon  such  petitions,  so 
verified,  shall  be  presumed  to  be  in  all  re- 
spects sufficient,  unless  not  later  than 
forty  days  before  the  election,  it  shall  be 
otherwise  proved  and  in  such  event  ten 
additional  davs  shall  be  allowed  for  the 
filing  of  additional  signatures  to  such  peti- 
tion. No  law  or  amendment  to  the  consti- 
tution submitted  to  the  electors  by  initia- 
tive and  supplementary  petition  and  re- 
ceiving an  affirmative  majority  of  the 
votes  cast  thereon,  shall  be  held  unconsti- 
tutional or  void  on  account  of  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  the  petitions  by  which  such  sub- 
mission of  the  same  was  procured;  nor 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


177 


shall  the  rejection  of  any  law  submitted  by 
referendum  petition  be  held  invalid  for 
such  insufficiency.  Upon  all  initiative, 
supplementary  and  referendum  petitions 
provided  for  in  any  of  the  sections  of  this 
article,  it  shall  be  necessary  to  file  from 
each  of  one-half  of  the  counties  of  the 
state,  petitions  bearing  the  signatures  of 
not  less  than  one-half  of  the  designated 
percentages  of  the  electors  of  such 
county.  A true  copy  of  all  laws  or  pro- 
posed laws  or  proposed  amendments  to  the 
constitution,  together  with  an  argument  or 
explanation,  or  both,  for,  and  also  an  argu- 
ment or  explanation,  or  both,  against  the 
same  shall  be  prepared.  The  person  or  per- 
sons who  prepare  the  argument  or  explana- 
tion, or  both,  against  any  law,  section  or 
item,  submitted  to  the  electors  by  referen- 
dum petition,  may  be  named  in  such  petition 
and  the  persons  who  prepare  the  argument 
or  explanation,  or  both,  for  any  proposed 
law  or  proposed  amendment  to  the  consti- 
tution may  be  named  in  the  petition  pro- 
posing the  same.  The  person  or  persons 
who  prepare  the  argument  or  explanation, 
or  both,  for  the  law,  section  or  item,  sub- 
mitted to  the  electors  by  referendum  peti- 
tion, or  against  any  proposed  law  sub- 
mitted by  supplementary  petition,  shall  be 
named  by  the  general  assembly,  if  in  ses- 
sion, and  if  not  in  session  then  by  the  gov- 
ernor. The  secretary  of  state  shall  cause 
to  be  printed  the  law,  or  proposed  law,  or 
proposed  amendment  to  the  constitution, 
together  with  the  arguments  and  explan- 
ations, not  exceeding  a total  of  three  hun- 
dred words  for  each,  and  also  the  argu- 
ments and  explanations,  not  exceeding  a 
total  of  three  hundred  words  against  each, 
and  shall  mail,  or  otherwise  distribute,  a 
copy  of  such  law,  or  proposed  law,  or  pro- 
posed amendment  to  the  constitution,  to- 
gether with  such  arguments  and  explana- 
tios  ^or  and  against  the  same  to  each  of 
the  electors  of  the  state,  as  far  as  may  be 
reasonably  possible.  Unless  otherwise 
^provided  by  law,  the  secretary  of  state 
shall  cause  to  be  placed  upon  the  ballots, 


the  title  of  any  such  law,  or  proposed  law, 
or  proposed  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion, to  be  submitted.  He  shall  also  cause 
the  ballots  so  to  be  printed  as  to  permit  an 
affirmative  or  negative  vote  upon  each 
law,  section  of  law,  or  item  in  a lav/  appro- 
priating money,  or  proposed  law  or  pro- 
posed amendment  to  the  constitution.  The 
style  of  all  laws  submitted  by  initiative 
and  supplementary  petition  shall  be:  “Be 
it  Enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of 
Ohio,”  and  of  all  constitutional  amend- 
ments: “Be  It  Resolved  by  the  People  of 
the  State  of  Ohio.”  The  basis  upon  which 
the  required  number  of  petitioners  in  any 
case  shall  be  determined  shall  be  the  total 
number  of  votes  cast  for  the  office  of  gov- 
ernor at  the  last  preceding  election 
therefor.  The  foregoing  provisions  of  this 
section  shall  be  self-executing,  except  as 
herein  otherwise  provided.  Laws  may  be 
passed  to  facilitate  their  operation,  but  in 
no  way  limiting  or  restricting  either  such 
provisions  or  the  powers  herein  reserved. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  2.  Senators  and  representatives 
shall  be  elected  biennially  by  the  electors 
of  the  respective  counties  or  districts, 
on  the  first  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday 
in  November;  their  term  of  office  shall 
commence  on  the  first  day  of  January 
next  thereafter,  and  continue  two  years. 
(As  amended  October  13,  1885:  82  V. 
446.) 

Sec.  3.  Senators  and  representatives 
shall  have  resided  in  their  respective 
counties,  or  districts,  one  year  next  pre- 
ceding their  election,  unless  they  shall 
have  been  absent  on  the  public  business  of 
the  United  States,  or  of  this  state.  ( See 
Const.  1802,  Art.  I,  §§  4,  7.) 

Sec.  4.  No  person  holding  office  under 
the  authority  of  the  United  States,  or  any 
lucrative  office  under  the  authority  of  this 
state,  shall  be  eligible  to,  or  have  a seat  in, 
the  general  assembly;  but  this  provision 
shall  not  extend  to  township  officers,  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  notaries  public,  or  offi- 


178 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


cers  of  the  militia.  ( See  Const.  1802,  Art. 
I,  § 26.) 

Sec.  5.  No  person  hereafter  convicted 
of  an  embezzlement  of  the  public  funds, 
shall  hold  any  office  in  this  state ; nor  shall 
any  person,  holding  public  money  for  dis- 
bursement, or  otherwise,  have  a seat  in  the 
general  assembly,  until  he  shall  have  ac- 
counted for,  and  paid  such  money  into 
the  treasury.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  1,  § 
28.) 

Sec.  6.  Each  house  shall  be  judge  of 
the  election,  returns,  and  qualifications  of 
its  own  members;  a majority  of  all  the 
members  elected  to  each  house  shall  be  a 
quorum  to  do  business;  but  a less  num- 
ber may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and 
compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members,- 
in  such  manner,  and  under  such  penalties, 
as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  /,  § 8.) 

Sec.  7.  The  mode  of  organizing  the 
house  of  representatives,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  each  regular  session,  shall  be 
prescribed  by  law.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art . 7,  § 8.) 

Sec.  8.  Each  house,  except  as  other- 
wise provided  in  this  constitution,  shall 
choose  its  own  officers,  may  determine  its 
own  rules  of  proceeding,  punish  its  mem- 
bers for  disorderly  conduct ; and,  with  the 
concurence  of  two-thirds,  expel  a member, 
but  not  the  second  time  for  the  same 
cause ; and  shall  have  all  powers  necessary 
to  provide  for  its  safety  and  the  undis- 
turbed transaction  of  its  business,  and  to 
obtain,  through  committees  or  otherwise, 
information  affecting  legislative  action  un- 
der consideration  or  in  contemplation,  or 
with  reference  to  any  alleged  breach  of  its 
privileges  or  misconduct  of  its  members, 
and  to  that  end  to  enforce  the  attendance 
and  testimony  of  witnesses,  and  the  pro- 
duction of  books  and  papers.  (As 
amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  9.  Each  house  shall  keep  a correct 
journal  of  its  proceedings,  which  shall  be 
published.  At  the  desire  of  any  two 


members,  the  yeas  and  nays  shall  be  en- 
tered upon  the  journal;  and,  on  the  pas- 
sage of  every  bill,  in  either  house,  the  vote 
shall  be  taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  journal ; and  no  law  shall  be 
passed  in  either  house,  without  the  con- 
currence of  a majority  of  all  the  members 
elected  thereto.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  I, 
§ 9.) 

Sec.  10.  Any  member  of  either  house 
shall  have  the  right  to  protest  against 
any  act,  or  resolution  thereof,  and  such 
protest,  and  the  reasons  therefor,  shall, 
without  alteration,  commitment,  or  delay, 
be  entered  upon  the  journal.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  I,  § 10.) 

Sec.  11.  All  vacancies  which  may  hap- 
pen in  either  house  shall,  for  the  unex- 
pired term,  be  filled  by  election,  as  shall 
be  directed  by  law.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art. 

I,  § 12.) 

Sec.  12.  Senators  and  representatives, 
during  the  session  of  the  general  assembly, 
and  in  going  to,  and  returning  from  the 
same,  shall  be  privileged  from  arrest,  in 
all  cases,  except  treason,  felony,  or  breach 
of  the  peace;  and  for  any  speech,  or  de- 
bate, in  either  house,  they  shall  not  be 
questioned  elsewhere.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art.  I,  § 13.) 

Sec.  13.  The  proceedings  of  both  houses 
shall  be  public,  except  in  cases  which,  in 
the  opinion  of  two-thirds  of  those  present, 
require  secrecy.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  I, 
§15.) 

Sec.  14.  Neither  house  shall,  without 
the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for 
more  than  two  days,  Sundays  excluded; 
nor  to  any  other  place  than  that,  in  which 
the  two  houses  shall  be  in  session.  (See 
Const.  1802,  Art.  I,  § 15.) 

Sec.  15.  Bills  may  originate  in  either 
house;  but  may  be  altered,  amended  or 
rejected  in  the  other.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art.  I,  § 16.) 

Sec.  16.  Every  bill  shall  be  fully  and 
dstinctly  read  on  three  different  days, 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


179 


unless  in  case  of  urgency  three-fourths 
of  the  house  in  which  it  shall  be  pending, 
shall  dispense  with  the  rule.  No  bill  shall 
contain  more  than  one  subject,  which 
shall  be  clearly  expressed  in  its  title,  and 
no  law  shall  be  revived,  or  amended  unless 
the  new  act  contains  the  entire  act  revived, 
or  the  section  or  sections  amended,  and 
the  section  or  sections  so  amended  shall  be 
repealed.  Every  bill  passed  by  the  general 
assembly  shall,  before  it  becomes  a law,  be 
presented  to  the  governor  for  his  ap- 
proval. If  he  approves,  he  shall  sign  it 
and  thereupon  it  shall  become  a law  and 
be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state.  If  he 
does  not  approve  it,  he  shall  return  it  with 
his  objections  in  writing,  to  the  house  in 
which  it  originated,  which  shall  enter  the 
objections  at  large  upon  its  journal,  and 
may  then  reconsider  the  vote  on  its  pas- 
sage. If  three-fifths  of  the  members 

elected  to  that  house  vote  to  repass  the 
bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  with  the  objections 
of  the  governor,  to  the  other  house,  which 
may  also  reconsider  the  vote  on  its  pas- 
sage. If  three-fifths  of  the  members 

elected  to  that  house  vote  to  repass  it,  it 
shall  become  a law  notwithstanding  the 
objections  of  the  governor,  except  that  in 
no  case  shall  a bill  be  repassed  by  a 
smaller  vote  than  is  required  by  the  con- 
stitution on  its  original  passage.  In  all 
such  cases  the  vote  of  each  house  shall  be 
determined  by  yeas  and  nays  and  the 
names  of  the  members  voting  for  and 
against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  upon  the 
journal.  If  a bill  shall  not  be  returned  to 
the  governor  within  ten  days,  Sundays  ex- 
cepted, after  being  presented  to  him,  it 
shall  become  a law  in  like  manner  as  if  he 
had  signed  it,  unless  the  general  assembly 
by  adjournment  prevents  its  return;  in 
which  case,  it  shall  become  a law  unless, 
within  ten  days  after  such  adjournment, 
it  shall  be  filed  by  him  with  his  objections 
in  writing,  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
state.  The  governor  may  disapprove  any 
item  or  items  in  any  bill  making  an  appro- 


priation of  money  and  the  item  or  items, 
so  disapproved,  shall  be  void,  unless  re- 
passed in  the  manner  herein  prescribed 
for  the  repassage  of  a bill.  (As  amended 
September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  17.  The  presiding  officer  of  each 
house  shall  sign,  publicly  in  the  presence 
of  the  house  over  which  he  presides,  while 
the  same  is  in  session,  and  capable  of 
transacting  business,  all  bills  and  joint 
resolutions  passed  by  the  general  assem- 
bly. (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  I,  § 17.) 

Sec.  18.  The  style  of  the  laws  of  this 
state  shall  be,  “Be  it  enacted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio.”  (See 
Const.  1802,  Art  I,  § 18.) 

Sec.  19.  No  senator  or  representative 
shall,  during  the  term  for  which  he  shall 
have  been  elected,  or  for  one  year  there- 
after, be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  un- 
der this  state,  which  shall  be  created  or 
the  emoluments  of  which  shall  have  been 
increased,  during  the  term  for  which  he 
shall  have  been  elected.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art.  I,  § 20.) 

Sec.  20.  The  general  assembly,  in  cases 
not  provided  for  in  this  constitution,  shall 
fix  the  term  of  office  for  the  compensation 
of  all  officers ; but  no  change  therein  shall 
affect  the  salary  of  any  officer  during  his 
existing  term,  unless  the  office  be  abol- 
ished. 

Sec.  21.  The  general  assembly  shall 
determine,  by  law,  before  what  authority, 
and  in  what  manner,  the  trial  of  contested 
elections  shall  be  conducted. 

Sec.  22.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from 
the  treasury,  except  in  pursuance  of  a spe- 
cific appropriation,  made  by  law;  and  no 
appropriation  shall  be  made  for  a longer 
period  than  two  years.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art.  I,  § 21.) 

Sec.  23.  The  house  of  representatives 
shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment, 
but  a majority  of  the  members  elected 
must  concur  therein.  Impeachments  shall 
be  tried  by  the  senate;  and  the  senators, 


ISO 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


when  sitting  for  that  purpose,  shall  be 
upon  oath  or  affirmation  to  do  justice  ac- 
cording to  law  and  evidence.  No  person 
shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence 
of  two-thirds  of  the  senators.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  I,  § 23.) 

Sec.  24.  The  governor,  judges,  and  all 
state  officers,  may  be  impeached  for  any 
misdemeanor  in  office;  but  judgment  shall 
not  extend  further  than  removal  from 
office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  any 
office  under  the  authority  of  this  state. 
The  party  impeached,  whether  convicted 
or  not,  shall  be  liable  to  indictment,  trial, 
and  judgment,  according  to  law.  ( See 

Const.  1802,  Art.  I,  § 24.) 

Sec.  25.  All  regular  sessions  of  the 
general  assembly  shall  commence  on  the 
first  Monday  of  January,  biennially.  The 
first  session,  under  this  constitution,  shall 
commence  on  the  first  Monday  of  Janu- 
ary, one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-two.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  /,  § 25.) 

Sec.  26.  All  laws,  of  a general  nature, 
shall  have  a uniform  operation  throughout 
the  state;  nor,  shall  any  act,  except  such 
as  relates  to  public  schools,  be  passed,  to 
take  effect  upon  the  approval  of  any  other 
authority  than  the  general  assembly,  ex- 
cept, as  otherwise  provided  in  this  consti- 
tution. 

Sec.  27.  The  election  and  appointment 
of  all  officers,  and  the  filling  of  all  vacan- 
cies, not  otherwise  provided  for  by  this 
constitution,  or  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  made  in  such  man- 
ner as  may  be  directed  by  law ; but  no  ap- 
pointing power  shall  be  exercised  by  the 
general  assembly,  except  as  prescribed  in 
this  constitution,  and  in  the  election  of 
United  States  senators ; and  in  these  cases 
the  vote  shall  be  taken  “viva  voce.” 

Sec.  28.  The  general  assembly  shall  have 
no  power  to  pass  retroactive  laws,  or  laws 
impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts ; 
but  may,  by  general  laws,  authorize  courts 
to  carry  into  effect,  upon  such  terms  as 
shall  be  just  and  equitable,  the  manifest 
intention  of  parties,  and  officers,  by  curing 


omissions,  defects,  and  errors,  in  instru- 
ments and  proceedings,  arising  out  of 
their  want  of  conformity  with  the  laws  of 
this  state.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VIII, 
§16.) 

Sec.  29.  No  extra  compensation  shall 
be  made  to  any  officer,  public  agent,  or 
contractor,  after  the  service  shall  have 
been  rendered,  or  the  contract  entered  in- 
to; nor  shall  any  money  be  paid,  on  any 
claim,  the  subject  matter  of  which  shall 
not  have  been  provided  for  by  pre-existing 
law,  unless  such  compensation,  or  claim, 
be  allowed  by  two-thirds  of  the  members 
elected  to  each  branch  of  the  general 
assembly. 

Sec.  30.  No  new  county  shall  contain 
less  than  four  hundred  square  miles  of 
territory,  nor  shall  any  county  be  reduced 
below  that  amount;  and  all  laws  creating 
new  counties,  changing  county  lines,  or  re- 
moving county  seats,  shall,  before  taking 
effect,  be  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the 
several  counties  to  be  affected  thereby,  at 
the  next  general  election  after  the  passage 
thereof,  and  be  adopted  by  a majority  of 
all  the  electors  voting  at  such  election,  in 
each  of  said  counties;  but  any  county 
now  or  hereafter  containing  one  hundred 
thousand  inhabitants,  may  be  divided, 
whenever  a majority  of  the  voters  residing 
in  each  of  the  proposed  divisions  shall  ap- 
prove of  the  law  passed  for  that  purpose ; 
but  no  town  or  city  within  the  same  shall 
be  divided  nor  shall  either  of  the  divisions 
contain  less  than  twenty  thousand  inhabi- 
tants. (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VII,  § 3.) 

Sec.  31.  The  members  and  officers  of 
the  general  assembly  shall  receive  a fixed 
compensation,  to  be  prescribed  by  law, 
and  no  other  allowance  or  perquisites, 
either  in  the  payment  of  postage  or  other- 
wise ; and  no  change  in  their  compensation 
shall  take  effect  during  their  term  of  office. 

Sec.  32.  The  general  assembly  shall 
grant  no  divorce,  nor  exercise  any  judicial 
power  not  herein  expressly  conferred. 

Sec.  33.  Laws  may  be  passed  to  secure 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


181 


to  mechanics,  artisans,  laborers,  sub- 
contractors and  material  men,  their  just 
dues  by  direct  lien  upon  the  property,  upon 
which  they  have  bestowed  labor  or  for 
which  they  have  furnished  material.  No 
other  provision  of  the  constitution  shall 
impair  or  limit  this  power.  (Adopted  Sep- 
tember 3,  1912.) 

Sec.  34.  Laws  may  be  passed  fixing 
and  regulating  the  hours  of  labor,  estab- 
lishing a minimum  wage,  and  providing 
for  the  comfort,  health,  safety  and  general 
welfare  of  all  employes ; and  no  other  pro- 
vision of  the  constitution  shall  impair  or 
limit  this  power.  (Adopted  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  35.  For  the  purpose  of  providing 
compensation  to  workmen  and  their  de- 
pendents, for  death,  injuries  or  occupa- 
tional disease,  occasioned  in  the  course  of 
such  workmen’s  employment,  laws  may  be 
passed  establishing  a state  fund  to  be 
created  by  compulsory  contribution  there- 
to by  employers,  and  administered  by  the 
upon  which  payment  shall  be  made  there- 
from, and  taking  away  any  or  all  rights  of 
action  or  defences  from  employes  and  em- 
ployers; but  no  right  of  action  shall  be 
taken  away  from  any  employe  when  the 
injury,  disease  or  death  arises  from  fail- 
ure of  the  employer  to  comply  with  any 
lawful  requirement  for  the  protection  of 
thelives,  health  and  safety  of  employes. 
Laws  may  be  passed  establishing  a board 
which  may  be  empowered  to  classify  all 
occupations,  according  to  their  degree  of 
hazard,  to  fix  rates  of  contribution  to  such 
fund  according  to  such  classification,  and 
to  collect,  administer  and  distribute  such 
fund,  and  to  determine  all  rights  of  claim- 
ants thereto.  (Adopted  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  36.  Laws  may  be  passed  to  en- 
courage forestry,  and  to  that  end  areas  de- 
voted exclusively  to  forestry  may  be 
exempted,  in  whole  or  in  part,  from  taxa- 
tion. Laws  may  also  be  passed  to  provide 
for  converting  into  forest  reserves  such 


lands  or  parts  of  lands  as  have  been  or 
may  be  forfeited  to  the  state,  and  to  au- 
thorize the  acquiring  of  other  lands  for 
that  purpose ; also,  to  provide  for  the  con- 
servation of  the  natural  resources  of  the 
state,  including  streams,  lakes,  sub- 
merged and  swamp  lands  and  the  develop- 
ment and  regulation  of  water  power  and 
the  formation  of  drainage  and  conserva- 
tion districts ; and  to  provide  for  the  regu- 
lation of  methods  of  mining,  weighing 
measuring  and  marketing  coal,  oil,  gas  and 
1912r)mmeraIS'  (Adopted  September  3, 

Sec.  37.  Except  in  cases  of  extra- 
ordinary emergencies,  not  to  exceed  eight 
hours  shall  constitute  a day’s  work  and 
not  to  exceed  forty-eight  hours  a week’s 
work,  for  workmen  engaged  on  any  public 
work  carried  on  or  aided  by  the  state,  or 
any  political  sub-division  thereof,  whether 
done  by  contract,  or  otherwise.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.)  p 

Sec.  38.  Laws  shall  be  passed  providing 
for  the  prompt  removal  from  office,  upon 
complaint  and  hearing,  of  all  officers,  in- 
cluding  state  officers,  judges  and  members 
or  the  general  assembly,  for  any  miscon- 
duct involving  moral  turpitude  or  for 
other  cause  provided  by  law;  and  this 
method  of  removal  shall  be  in  addition  to 
impeachment  or  other  method  of  removal 
authorized  by  the  constitution.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.)  P 

Sec.  39.  Laws  may  be  passed  for  the 
regulation  of  the  use  of  expert  witnesses 
and  expert  testimony  in  criminal  trials 
and  proceedings.  (Adopted  September  3, 
10 12. ) 

Sec.  40.  Laws  may  be  passed  providing 
for  a system  of  registering,  transferring 
insuring  and  guaranteeing  land  titles  by 
the  state  or  by  the  counties  thereof,  and 
for  settling  and  determining  adverse  or 
other  claims  to  and  interests  in,  lands  the 
titles  to  which  are  so  registered,  insured 
or  guaranteed,  and  for  the  creation  and 
collection  of  guaranty  funds  by  fees  to  be 


182 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


assessed  against  lands,  the  titles  to  which 
are  registered;  and  judicial  powers  with 
right  of  appeal  may  by  law  be  conferred 
upon  county  recorders  or  other  officers  in 
matters  arising  under  the  operation  of 
such  system.  (Adopted  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  41.  Laws  shall  be  passed  providing 
for  the  occupation  and  employment  of 
prisoners  sentenced  to  the  several  penal 
institutions  and  reformatories  in  the 
state ; and  no  person  in  any  such  penal  in- 
stitution or  reformatory  while  under  sen- 
tence thereto,  shall  be  required  or  allowed 
to  work  at  any  trade,  industry  or  occupa- 
tion, wherein  or  whereby  his  work,  or  the 
product  or  profit  of  his  work,  shall  be  sold, 
farmed  out,  contracted  or  given  away ; and 
goods  made  by  persons  under  sentence  to 
any  penal  institution  or  reformatory  with- 
out the  State  of  Ohio,  and  such  goods  made 
within  the  State  of  Ohio,  excepting  those 
disposed  of  to  the  state  or  any  political 
subdivision  thereof  or  to  any  public  insti- 
tution owned,  managed  or  controlled  by 
the  state  or  any  political  subdivision 
thereof,  shall  not  be  sold  within  this 
state  unless  the  same  are  conspicuously 
marked  “prison  made.”  Nothing  herein 
contained  shall  be  construed  to  prevent  the 
passage  of  laws  providing  that  convicts 
may  work  for,  and  that  the  products  of 
their  labor  may  be  disposed  of  to,  the  state 
or  any  political  sub-division  thereof,  or  for 
or  to  any  public  institution  owned  or  man- 
aged and  controlled  by  the  state  or  any 
political  sub-division  thereof.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.) 

Article  III 
Executive 

Section  1.  The  executive  department 
shall  consist  of  a governor,  lieutenant  gov- 
ernor, secretary  of  state,  auditor  of  state, 
treasurer  of  state,  and  an  attorney  gen- 
eral, who  shall  be  elected  on  the  first  Tues- 
day after  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
by  the  electors  of  the  state,  and  at  the 


places  of  voting  for  members  of  the  gen- 
eral assembly.  (As  amended  October  13, 
1885;  82  v.  446.) 

Sec.  2.  The  governor,  lieutenant  gov- 
ernor, secretary  of  state,  treasurer,  and 
attorney  general  shall  hold  their  offices 
for  two  years;  and  the  auditor  for  four 
years.  Their  terms  of  office  shall  com- 
mence on  the  second  Monday  of  January 
next  after  their  election,  and  continue 
until  their  successors  are  elected  and 
qualified.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  11,  §§  3, 
16.) 

Sec.  3.  The  returns  for  every  election 
for  the  officers  named  in  the  foregoing 
election  shall  be  sealed  up  and  transmitted 
to  the  seat  of  government,  by  the  return- 
ing officers,  directed  to  the  president  of 
the  senate,  who,  during  the  first  week  of 
the  session,  shall  open  and  publish  them, 
and  declare  the  result,  in  the  presence  of  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  each  house  of 
the  general  assembly.  The  person  having 
the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  de- 
clared duly  elected ; but  if  any  two  or  more 
shall  be  highest,  and  equal  in  votes,  for  the 
same  office,  one  of  them  shall  be  chosen  by 
the  joint  vote  of  both  houses.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  II,  § 2.) 

Sec.  4.  Should  there  be  no  session  of 
the  general  assembly  in  January  next 
after  an  election  for  any  of  the  officers 
aforesaid,  the  returns  of  such  election 
shall  be  made  to  the  secretary  of  state, 
and  opened,  and  the  result  declared  by  the 
governor,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  law. 

Sec.  5.  The  supreme  executive  power 
of  this  state  shall  be  vested  in  the  gov- 
ernor. (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § |.) 

Sec.  6.  He  may  require  information,  in 
writing,  from  the  officers  in  the  executive 
department,  upon  any  subject  relating  to 
the  duties  of  their  respective  offices;  and 
shall  see  that  the  laws  are  faithfully 
executed.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § 7.) 

Sec.  7.  He  shall  communicate  at  every 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


183 


session,  by  message,  to  the  general  assem- 
bly, the  condition  of  the  state,  and  recom- 
mend such  measures  as  he  shall  deem  ex- 
pedient. (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § 4.) 

Sec.  8.  The  governor  on  extraordinary 
occasions  may  convene  the  general  assem- 
bly by  proclamation  and  shall  state  in  the 
proclamation  the  purpose  for  which  such 
special  session  is  called,  and  no  othef 
business  shall  be  transacted  at  such  spe- 
cial session  except  that  named  in  the 
proclamation,  or  in  a subsequent  public 
proclamation,  or  message  to  the  general 
asembly  issued  by  the  governor  during 
said  special  session,  but  the  general  assem- 
bly may  provide  for  the  expenses  of  the 
session  and  other  matter  incidental  there- 
to. (As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  9.  In  case  of  disagreement  between 
the  two  houses,  in  respect  to  the  time  of 
adjournment,  he  shall  have  power  to  ad- 
journ the  general  assembly  to  such  time 
as  he  may  think  proper,  but  not  beyond 
the  regular  meetings  thereof.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  II,  § 11.) 

Sec.  10.  He  shall  be  commander-in- 
chief of  the  military  and  naval  forces  of 
the  state,  except  when  they  shall  be  called 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
(See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § 10.) 

Sec.  11.  He  shall  have  power,  after  con- 
viction, to  grant  reprieves,  commutations, 
and  pardons,  for  all  crimes  and  offenses, 
except  treason  and  cases  of  impeachment, 
upon  such  conditions  as  he  may  think 
proper;  subject,  however,  to  such  regula- 
tions, as  to  the  manner  of  applying  for 
pardons,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 
Upon  conviction  for  treason,  he  may  sus- 
pend the  execution  of  the  sentence,  and  re- 
port the  case  to  the  general  assembly,  at 
its  next  meeting,  when  the  general  assem- 
bly shall  either  pardon,  commute  the  sen- 
tence, direct  its  execution,  or  grant  a 
further  reprieve.  He  shall  communicate 
to  the  general  assembly,  at  every  regular 
session,  each  case  of  reprieve,  commuta- 
tion, or  pardon  granted,  stating  the  name 
and  crime  of  the  convict,  the  sentence,  its 


date,  and  the  date  of  the  commutation, 
pardon,  or  reprieve,  with  his  reasons 
therefor.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § 5.) 

Sec.  12.  There  shall  be  a seal  of  the 
state,  which  shall  be  kept  by  the  governor, 
and  used  by  him  officially;  and  shall  be 
called  “The  Great  Seal  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.”  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § 14.) 

Sec.  13.  All  grants  and  commissions 
shall  be  issued  in  the  name,  and  by  the 
authority,  of  the  state  of  Ohio ; sealed  with 
the  great  seal ; signed  by  the  governor,  and 
countersigned  by  the  secretary  of  state. 
(See  Const.  1802,  Art.  II,  § 15.) 

Sec.  14.  No  member  of  congress,  or 
other  person  holding  office  under  the  au- 
thority of  this  state,  or  of  the  United 
States,  shall  execute  the  office  of  governor, 
except  as  herein  provided.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  II,  § 13.) 

Sec.  15.  In  case  of  the  death,  impeach- 
ment, resignation,  removal,  or  other  dis- 
ability of  the  governor,  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  office,  for  the  residue  of  the 
term,  or  until  he  shall  be  acquitted,  or  the 
disability  removed,  shall  devolve  upon  the 
lieutenant  governor.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art.  II,  § 12.) 

Sec.  16.  The  lieutenant  governor  shall 
be  president  of  the  senate,  but  shall  vote 
only  when  the  senate  is  equally  divided; 
and  in  case  of  his  absence,  or  impeach- 
ment, or  when  he  shall  exercise  the  office 
of  governor,  the  senate  shall  choose  a pres- 
ident pro  tempore. 

Sec.  17.  If  the  Lieutenant  Governor, 
while  executing  the  office  of  Governor, 
shall  be  impeached,  displaced,  resign  or 
die,  or  otherwise  become  incapable  of  per- 
forming the  duties  of  the  office,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Senate  shall  act  as  Governor, 
until  the  vacancy  is  filled,  or  the  disability 
removed;  and  if  the  president  of  the  Sen- 
ate, for  any  of  the  above  causes,  shall  be 
rendered  incapable  of  performing  the  du- 
ties pertaining  to  the  office  of  Governor, 
the  same  shall  devolve  upon  the  speaker  of 
the  House  of  Representatives.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  II,  § 12. 


184 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Sec.  18.  Should  the  office  of  auditor, 
treasurer,  secretary,  or  attorney  general, 
become  vacant,  for  any  of  the  causes  speci- 
fied in  the  fifteenth  section  of  this  article, 
the  Governor  shall  fill  the  vacancy  until 
the  disability  is  removed,  or  a successor 
elected  and  qualified.  Every  such  vacancy 
shall  be  filled  by  election,  at  the  first  gen- 
eral election  that  occurs  more  than  thirty 
days  after  it  shall  have  happened ; and  the 
person  chosen  shall  hold  the  office  for  the 
full  term  fixed  in  the  second  section  of  this 
article. 

Sec.  19.  The  officers  mentioned  in  this 
article  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for 
their  services,  a compensation  to  be  estab- 
lished by  law,  which  shall  neither  be  in- 
creased nor  diminished  during  the  period 
for  which  they  shall  have  been  elected. 
(See  Const.  1802,  Art.  I,  § 19.) 

Sec.  20.  The  officers  of  the  executive 
department,  and  of  the  public  State  insti- 
tutions shall,  at  least  five  days  preceding 
each  regular  session  of  the  general  assem- 
bly, severally  report  to  the  governor,  who 
shall  transmit  such  reports,  with  his  mes- 
sage to  the  general  assembly. 

Article  IV 

Section  1.  The  judicial  power  of  the 
state  is  vested  in  a supreme  court,  courts 
of  appeal,  courts  of  common  pleas,  courts 
of  probate,  and  such  other  courts  inferior 
to  the  courts  of  appeals  as  may  from  time 
to  time  be  established  by  law.  (As 
amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  2.  The  supreme  court  shall,  until 
otherwise  provided  by  law,  consist  of  a 
chief  justice  and  six  judges,  and  the  judges 
now  in  office  in  that  court  shall  continue 
therein  until  the  end  of  the  terms  for 
which  they  were  respectively  elected,  un- 
less they  are  removed,  die  or  resign.  A 
majority  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be  nec- 
essary to  constitute  a quorum  or  to  pro- 
nounce a decision,  except  as  hereinafter 
provided.  It  shall  have  original  jurisdic- 
tion in  quo  warranto,  mandamus,  habeas 
corpus,  prohibition  and  procedendo,  and 


appellate  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  involving 
questions  arising  under  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States  or  of  this  state,  in  cases 
of  felony  on  leave  first  obtained,  and  in 
cases  which  originated  in  the  courts  of 
appeals,  and  such  revisory  jurisdiction  of 
the  proceedings  of  administrative  officers 
as  may  be  conferred  by  law.  It  shall  hold 
at  least  one  term  in  each  year  at  the  seat 
of  government,  and  such  other  terms, 
there  or  elsewhere,  as  may  be  provided  by 
law.  The  judges  of  the  supreme  court 
shall  be  elected  by  the  electors  of  the  state 
at  large  for  such  term,  not  less  than  six 
years,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law,  and 
they  shall  be  elected,  and  their  official 
term  shall  begin,  at  such  time  as  may  now 
or  hereafter  be  fixed  by  law.  Whenever 
the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be 
equally  divided  in  opinion  as  to  the  merits 
of  any  case  before  them  and  are  unable  for 
that  reason  to  agree  upon  a judgment,  that 
fact  shall  be  entered  upon  the  record  and 
such  entry  shall  be  held  to  constitute  an 
affirmance  of  the  judgment  of  the  court 
below.  No  law  shall  be  held  unconstitu- 
tional and  void  by  the  supreme  court  with- 
out the  concurrence  of  at  least  all  but  one 
of  the  judges,  except  in  the  affirmance  of 
a judgment  of  the  court  of  appeals  declar- 
ing a law  unconstitutional  and  void.  In 
case  of  public  or  great  general  interest  the 
supreme  court  may,  within  such  limitation 
of  time  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law,  direct 
any  court  of  appeals  to  certify  its  record 
to  the  supreme  court,  and  may  review,  and 
affirm,  modify  or  reverse  the  judgment  of 
the  court  of  appeals.  All  cases  pending  in 
the  supreme  court  at  the  time  of  the  adop- 
tion of  this  amendment  by  the  people,  shall 
proceed  to  judgment  in  the  manner  pro- 
vided by  existing  law.  No  law  shall  be 
passed  or  rule  made  whereby  any  person 
shall  be  prevented  from  invoking  the  orig- 
inal jurisdiction  of  the  supreme  court. 
(As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  3.  One  resident  judge  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas,  and  such  additional  resi- 
dent judge  or  judges  as  may  be  provided 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


185 


by  law,  shall  be  elected  in  each  county  of 
the  state  by  the  electors  of  such  county; 
and  as  many  courts  or  sessions  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  as  are  necessary,  may  be 
held  at  the  same  time  in  any  county.  Any 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  may 
temporarily  preside  and  hold  court  in  any 
county;  and  until  the  general  assembly 
shall  make  adequate  provision  therefor, 
the  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of 
the  state  shall  pass  upon  the  disqualifica- 
tion or  disability  of  any  judge  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas,  and  he  may  assign  any 
judge  to  any  county  to  hold  court  therein. 
(As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  4.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  courts  of 
common  pleas,  and  of  the  judges  thereof 
shall  be  fixed  by  law.  (See  Const.  1802, 
Art.  Ill,  §§  3,  4,  5,  6.) 

Sec.  5.  [ Repealed  October  9,  1883;  80 

v.  382.] 

Sec.  6.  The  state  shall  be  divided  into 
appellate  districts  of  compact  territory 
bounded  by  county  lines,  in  each  of  which 
there  shall  be  a court  of  appeals  consisting 
of  three  judges,  and  until  altered  by  law 
the  circuits  in  which  the  circuit  courts  are 
now  held  shall  constitute  the  appellate  dis- 
tricts aforesaid.  The  judges  of  the  circuit 
courts  now  residing  in  their  respective  dis- 
tricts shall  be  the  judges  of  the  respective 
courts  of  appeals  in  such  districts  and  per- 
form the  duties  thereof  until  the  expira- 
tion of  their  respective  terms  of  office. 
Vacancies  caused  by  the  expiration  of  the 
terms  of  office  of  the  judges  of  the  courts 
of  appeals  shall  be  filled  by  the  electors  of 
the  respective  appellate  districts  in  which 
such  vacancies  shall  arise.  Until  other- 
wise provided  by  law  the  term  of  office  of 
such  judges  shall  be  six  years.  Laws  may 
be  passed  to  prescribe  the  time  and  mode 
of  such  election  and  to  alter  the  number 
of  districts  or  the  boundaries  thereof,  but 
no  such  change  shall  abridge  the  term  of 
any  judge  then  in  office.  The  court  of 
appeals  shall  hold  at  least  one  term  an- 
nually in  each  county  in  the  district  and 
such  other  terms  at  a county  seat  in  the 


district  as  the  judges  may  determine  upon, 
and  the  county  commissioners  of  any 
county  in  which  the  court  of  appeals  shall 
hold  sessions  shall  make  proper  and  con- 
venient provisions  for  the  holding  of  such 
court  by  its  judges  and  officers.  Each 
judge  shall  be  competent  to  exercise  ju- 
dicial powers  in  any  appellate  district  of 
the  state.  The  courts  of  appeals  shall  con- 
tinue the  work  of  the  respective  circuit 
courts  and  all  pending  cases  and  proceed- 
ings in  the  circuit  courts  shall  proceed  to 
judgment  and  be  determined  by  the  re- 
spective courts  of  appeals,  and  the  su- 
preme court,  as  now  provided  by  law,  and 
cases  brought  into  said  courts  of  appeals 
after  the  taking  effect  hereof  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  the  provisions  hereof  and  the  circuit 
courts  shall  be  merged  into,  and  their  work 
continued  by,  the  courts  of  appeals.  The 
courts  of  appeals  shall  have  original  juris- 
diction in  quo  warranto,  mandamus,  ha- 
beas corpus,  prohibition  and  procedendo, 
and  appellate  jurisdiction  in  the  trial  of 
chancery  cases,  and,  to  review,  affirm, 
modify  or  reverse  the  judgment  of  the 
courts  of  common  pleas,  superior  courts 
and  other  courts  of  record  within  the  dis- 
trict as  may  be  provided  by  law,  and  judg- 
ments of  the  courts  of  appeals  shall  be  final 
in  all  cases,  except  cases  involving  ques- 
tions arising  under  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States  or  of  this  state,  cases  of 
felony,  cases  of  which  it  has  original  jur- 
isdiction, and  cases  of  public  or  great  gen- 
eral interest  in  which  the  supreme  court 
may  direct  any  court  of  appeals  to  certify 
its  record  to  that  court.  No  judgment  of 
a court  of  common  pleas,  a superior  court 
or  other  court  of  record  shall  be  reversed 
except  by  the  concurrence  of  all  the  judges 
of  the  court  of  appeals  on  the  weight  of 
the  evidence  and  by  a majority  of  such 
court  of  appeals  upon  other  questions ; and 
whenever  the  judges  of  a court  of  appeals 
find  that  a judgment  upon  which  they  have 
agreed  is  in  conflict  with  a judgment  pro- 
nounced upon  the  same  question  by  any 
other  court  of  appeals  of  the  state,  the 


186 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


judges  shall  certify  the  record  of  the  case 
to  the  supreme  court  for  review  and  final 
determination.  The  decisions  in  all  cases 
in  the  supreme  court  shall  be  reported, 
together  with  the  reasons  therefor,  and 
laws  may  be  passed  providing  for  the  re- 
porting of  cases  in  the  courts  of  appeals. 
The  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court 
of  the  state  shall  determine  the  disability 
or  disqualification  of  any  judge  of  the 
court  of  appeals  and  he  may  assign  any 
judge  of  the  courts  of  appeals  to  any 
county  to  hold  court.  (As  amended  Sep- 
tember 3,  1912.) 

Sec.  7.  There  shall  be  established  in 
each  county,  a probate  court,  which  shall 
be  a court  of  record,  open  at  all  times,  and 
holden  by  one  judge,  elected  by  the  electors 
of  the  county,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for 
the  term  of  four  years,  and  shall  receive 
such  compensation,  payable  out  of  the 
county  treasury,  as  shall  be  provided  by 
law.  Whenever  ten  per  centum  of  the 
number‘of  the  electors  voting  for  govei^ior 
at  the  next  preceding  election  in  any 
county  having  less  than  sixty  thousand 
population  as  determined  by  the  next  pre- 
ceding federal  census,  shall  petition  the 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  of  any 
such  county  not  less  than  ninety  days  be- 
fore any  general  election  for  county  offi- 
cers, the  judge  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  shall  submit  to  the  electors  of  such 
county  the  question  of  combining  the  pro- 
bate court  with  the  court  of  common  pleas, 
and  such  courts  shall  be  combined  and 
shall  be  known  as  the  court  of  common 
pleas  in  case  a majority  of  the  electors 
voting  upon  such  question  vote  in  favor  of 
such  combination.  Notice  of  such  election 
shall  be  given  in  the  same  manner  as  for 
the  election  of  county  officers.  Elections 
may  be  had  in  the  same  manner  for  the 
separation  of  such  courts,  when  once  com- 
bined. (As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  8.  The  probate  court  shall  have 
jurisdiction  in  probate  and  testamentary 
matters,  the  appointment  of  administra- 
tors and  guardians,  the  settlement  of  the 


accounts  of  executors,  administrators,  and 
guardians,  and  such  jurisdiction  in  habeas 
corpus,  the  issuing  of  marriage  licenses 
and  for  the  sale  of  land  by  executors,  ad- 
ministrators, and  guardians,  and  such 
other  jurisdiction,  in  any  county  or  coun- 
ties, as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  9.  A competent  number  of  justices 
of  the  peace  shall  be  elected  by  the  electors 
in  each  township  in  the  several  counties, 
until  otherwise  provided  by  law.  Their 
term  of  office  shall  be  for  four  years  and 
their  powers  and  duties  shall  be  regulated 
by  law:  provided  that  no  justice  of  the 
peace  shall  be  elected  in  any  township  in 
which  a court,  other  than  a mayor’s  court, 
is,  or  may  hereafter  be,  maintained  with 
the  jurisdiction  of  all  causes  of  which  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  have  jurisdiction,  and  no 
justice  of  the  peace  shall  have,  or  exercise 
jurisdiction  in  such  township. 

SCHEDULE. 

If  the  amendment  to  article  IV,  sections 
1,  2 and  6,  be  adopted  by  the  electors  of 
this  state  and  become  a part  of  the  consti- 
tution, then  section  9 of  article  IV  of  the 
constitution  is  repealed,  and  the  foregoing 
amendment,  if  adopted,  shall  be  of  no 
effect.  (As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  10.  All  judges,  other  than  those 
provided  for  in  this  constitution,  shall  be 
elected  by  the  electors  of  the  judicial  dis- 
trict for  which  they  may  be  created,  but 
not  for  a longer  term  of  office  than  five 
years. 

Sec.  11.  [Repealed  October  9,  1883;  80 
v.  382.] 

Sec.  12.  The  judges  of  the  courts  of 
common  pleas  shall,  while  in  office,  reside 
in  the  county  for  which  they  are  elected; 
and  their  term  of  office  shall  be  for  six 
years.  (As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  13.  In  case  the  office  of  any  judge 
shall  become  vacant,  before  the  expiration 
of  the  regular  term  for  which  he  was 
elected,  the  vacany  shall  be  filled  by  ap- 
pointment by  the  governor,  until  a suc- 
cessor is  elected  and  qualified;  and  such 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


137 


successor  shall  be  elected  for  the  unexpired 
term,  at  the  first  annual  election  that  oc- 
curs more  than  thirty  days  after  the 
vacancy  shall  have  happened. 

Sec.  14.  The  judges  of  the  supreme 
court,  and  of  the  court  of  common  pleas, 
shall,  at  stated  times,  receive,  for  their 
services,  such  compensation  as  may  be 
provided  by  law,  which  shall  not  be  dimin- 
ished, or  increased,  during  their  term  of 
office;  but  they  shall  receive  no  fees  or 
perquisites,  nor  hold  any  other  office  of 
profit  or  trust,  under  the  authority  of  this 
state,  or  the  United  States.  All  votes  for 
either  of  them,  for  any  elective  office,  ex- 
cept a judicial  office,  under  the  authority 
of  this  state,  given  by  the  general  assem- 
bly, or  the  people,  shall  be  void.  (See 
Const.  1802,  Art.  Ill,  § 8.) 

Sec.  15.  Laws  may  be  passed  to  in- 
crease or  diminish  the  number  of  judges 
of  the  supreme  court,  to  increase  beyond 
one  or  diminish  to  one  the  number  of 
judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  in 
any  county,  and  to  establish  other  courts, 
whenever  two-third  of  the  members  elected 
to  each  house  shall  concur  therein ; but  no 
such  change,  addition  or  diminution  shall 
vacate  the  office  of  any  judge;  and  any 
existing  court  heretofore  created  by  law 
shall  continue  in  existence  until  otherwise 
provided.  (As  amended  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  16.  There  shall  be  elected  in  each 
county,  by  the  electors  thereof,  one  clerk 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  who  shall 
hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  three  years, 
and  until  his  successor  shall  be  elected  and 
qualified.  He  shall,  by  virtue  of  his  office, 
be  clerk  of  all  other  courts  of  record  held 
therein;  but,  the  general  assembly  may 
provide,  by  law,  for  the  election  of  a clerk, 
with  a like  term  of  office,  for  each  or  any 
other  of  the  courts  of  record,  and  may 
authorize  the  judge  of  the  probate  court 
to  perform  the  duties  of  clerk  for  his  court, 
under  such  regulations  as  may  be  directed 
by  law.  Clerks  of  courts  shall  be  remov- 
able for  such  cause  and  in  such  manner  as 
shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  (See  Const. 


1802,  Art.  Ill,  § 9.) 

Sec.  17.  Judges  may  be  removed  from 
office,  by  concurrent  resolution  of  both 
houses  of  the  general  assembly,  if  two- 
thirds  of  the  members,  elected  to  each 
house,  concur  therein;  but,  no  such  re- 
moval shall  be  made,  except  upon  com- 
plaint, the  substance  of  which  shall  be 
entered  on  the  journal,  nor,  until  the  party 
charged  shall  have  had  notice  thereof,  and 
an  opportunity  to  be  heard. 

Sec.  18.  The  several  judges  of  the  su- 
preme court,  of  the  common  pleas,  and  of 
such  other  courts  as  may  be  created,  shall, 
respectively,  have  and  exercise  such  power 
and  jurisdiction,  at  chambers,  or  other- 
wise, as  may  be  directed  by  law. 

Sec.  19.  The  general  assembly  may  es- 
tablish courts  of  conciliation,  and  prescribe 
their  powers  and  duties;  but  such  courts 
shall  not  render  final  judgment  in  any 
case,  except  upon  submission,  by  the  par- 
ties, of  the  matter  in  dispute,  and  their 
agreement  to  abide  such  judgment. 

Sec.  20.  The  style  of  all  process  shall 
be,  “The  State  of  Ohio;”  all  prosecutions 
shall  be  carried  on,  in  the  name,  and  by  the 
authority,  of  the  state  of  Ohio ; and  all  in- 
dictments shall  conclude,  “against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  state  of  Ohio.” 
(See  Const.  1802,  Art.  Ill,  § 12.) 

Sec.  22  [21].  A commission,  which 
shall  consist  of  five  members,  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor,  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  senate,  the  members  of 
which  shall  hold  office  for  the  term  of  three 
years  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1876,  to  dispose  of  such  part  of  the 
business  then  on  the  dockets  of  the  su- 
preme court,  as  shall,  by  arrangement  be- 
tween said  commission  and  said  court, 
be  transferred  to  such  commission;  and 
said  commission  shall  have  like  jurisdic- 
tion and  power  in  respect  to  such  business 
as  are  or  may  be  vested  in  said  court ; and 
the  members  of  said  commission  shall  re- 
ceive a like  compensation  for  the  time  be- 
ing, with  the  judges  of  said  court.  A ma- 
jority of  the  members  of  said  commission 
shall  be  necessary  to  form  a quorum  or 


1S3 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


pronounce  a decision,  and  its  decision 
shall  be  certified,  entered,  and  en- 
forced as  the  judgments  of  the  supreme 
court,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  said  commission,  all  busi- 
ness undisposed  of  shall  by  it  be  cer- 
tified to  the  supreme  court  and  disposed 
of  as  if  said  commission  had  never  existed. 
The  clerk  and  reporter  of  said  court  shall 
be  the  clerk  and  reporter  of  said  commis- 
sion, and  the  commission  shall  have  such 
other  attendants  not  exceeding  in  number 
those  provided  by  law  for  said  court,  which 
attendants  said  commission  may  appoint 
and  remove  at  its  pleasure.  Any  vacancy 
occurring  in  said  commission  shall  be  filled 
by  appointment  of  the  governor,  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  senate,  if  the 
senate  be  in  session,  and  if  the  senate  be 
not  in  session,  by  the  governor,  but  in  such 
last  case,  such  appointment  shall  expire  at 
the  end  of  the  next  session  of  the  general 
assembly.  The  general  assembly  may,  on 
application  of  the  supreme  court  duly  en- 
tered on  the  journal  of  the  court  and  cer- 
tified, provide  by  law,  whenever  two-thirds 
of  such  [each]  house  shall  concur  therein, 
from  time  to  time,  for  the  appointment,  in 
like  manner,  of  a like  commission  with  like 
powers,  jurisdiction  and  duties;  provided, 
that  the  term  of  any  such  commission  shall 
not  exceed  two  years,  nor  shall  it  be  cre- 
ated oftener  than  once  in  ten  years. 


Article  V 

Section  1.  Every  white  male  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  of  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  who  shall  have  been  a resident  of 
the  state  one  year  next  preceding  the  elec- 
tion, and  of  the  county,  township,  or  ward, 
in  which  he  resides,  such  time  as  may  be 
provided  by  law,  shall  have  the  qualifica- 
tions of  an  elector,  and  be  entitled  to  vote 
at  all  elections.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  IV, 
§§  1,  5.) 

Sec.  2.  All  elections  shall  be  by  ballot. 
(See  Const.  1802,  Art.  IV,  § 2.) 

Sec.  3.  Electors,  during  their  attend- 
ance at  elections,  and  in  going  to,  and  re- 
turning therefrom,  shall  be  privileged 


from  arrest,  in  all  cases,  except  treason, 
felony,  and  breach  of  the  peace.  (See 
Const.  1802,  Art.  IV,  § 3.) 

Sec.  4.  The  general  assembly  shall  have 
power  to  exclude  from  the  privilege  of  vot- 
ing, or  of  being  eligible  to  office,  any  per- 
son convicted  of  bribery,  perjury,  or  other 
infamous  crime.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art. 
IV,  § 4.) 

Sec.  5.  No  person  in  the  military,  naval, 
or  marine  service  of  the  United  States, 
shall,  by  being  stationed  in  any  garrison, 
or  military,  or  naval  station,  within  the 
state,  be  considered  a resident  of  this  state. 

Sec.  6.  No  idiot,  or  insane  person,  shall 
be  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  an  elector. 

Sec.  7.  All  nominations  for  elective 
state,  district,  county  and  municipal  offices 
shall  be  made  at  direct  primary  elections 
or  by  petition  as  provided  by  law,  and  pro- 
vision shall  be  made  by  law  for  a prefer- 
ential vote  for  United  States  senator;  but 
direct  primaries  shall  not  be  held  for  the 
nomination  of  township  officers  or  for  the 
officers  of  municipalities  of  less  than  two 
thousand  population,  unless  petitioned  for 
by  a majority  of  the  electors  of  such  town- 
ship or  municipality.  All  delegates  from 
this  state  to  the  national  conventions  of 
political  parties  shall  be  chosen  by  direct 
vote  of  the  electors.  Each  candidate  for 
such  delegate  shall  state  his  first  and  sec- 
ond choices  for  the  presidency,  which  pref- 
erences shall  be  printed  upon  the  primary 
ballot  below  the  name  of  such  candidate, 
but  the  name  of  no  candidate  for  the  presi- 
dency shall  be  so  used  without  his  written 
authority.  (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Articles  VI 

EDUCATION. 

Section  1.  The  principal  of  all  funds, 
arising  from  the  sale,  or  other  disposition 
of  lands,  or  other  property,  granted  or  en- 
trusted to  this  state  for  educational  and 
religious  purposes,  shall  forever  be  pre- 
served inviolate,  and  undiminished;  and, 
the  income  arising  therefrom,  shall  be 
faithfully  applied  to  the  specific  objects  of 
the  original  grants,  or  appropriations. 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


1S9 


Sec.  2.  The  general  assembly  shall  make 
such  provisions,  by  taxation,  or  otherwise, 
as,  with  the  income  arising  from  the  school 
trust  fund,  will  secure  a thorough  and  effi- 
cient system  of  common  schools  through- 
out the  state ; but  no  religious  or  other  sect, 
or  sects,  shall  ever  have  any  exclusive 
right  to,  or  control  of,  any  part  of  the 
school  funds  of  this  state. 

Sec.  3.  Provision  shall  be  made  by  law 
for  the  organization,  administration  and 
control  of  the  public  school  system  of  the 
state  supported  by  public  funds ; provided, 
that  each  school  district  embraced  wholly 
or  in  part  within  any  city  shall  have  the 
power  by  referendum  vote  to  determine 
for  itself  the  number  of  members  and  the 
organization  of  the  district  board  of  edu- 
cation, and  provision  shall  be  made  by  law 
for  the  exercise  of  this  power  by  such 
school  districts.  (Adopted  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  4.  A superintendent  of  public  in- 
struction to  replace  the  state  commissioner 
of  common  schools,  shall  be  included  as  one 
of  the  officers  of  the  executive  department 
to  be  appointed  by  the  governor,  for  the 
term  of  four  years,  with  the  powers  and 
duties  now  exercised  by  the  state  commis- 
sioner of  common  schools  until  otherwise 
provided  by  law,  and  with  such  other  pow- 
ers as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

SCHEDULE. 

If  the  foregoing  amendment  be  adopted 
by  the  electors,  it  shall  take  effect  and 
become  a part  of  the  constitution  on  the 
second  Monday  of  July,  1913.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.) 

Article  VII 
PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS. 

Section  1.  Institutions  for  the  benefit 
of  the  insane,  blind,  and  deaf  and  dumb, 
shall  always  be  fostered  and  supported  by 
the  state;  and  be  subject  to  such  regula- 
tions as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  general 
assembly. 

Sec.  2.  The  directors  of  the  penitentiary 


shall  be  appointed  or  elected  in  such  man- 
ner as  the  general  assembly  may  direct; 
and  the  trustees  of  the  benevolent,  and 
other  state  institutions,  now  elected  by  the 
general  assembly,  and  of  such  other  state 
institutions,  as  may  be  hereafter  created, 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  governor,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate ; 
and  upon  all  nominations  made  by  the  gov- 
ernor, the  question  shall  be  taken  by  yeas 
and  nays,  and  entered  upon  the  journals  of 
the  senate. 

Sec.  3.  The  governor  shall  have  power 
to  fill  all  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  the 
offices  aforesaid,  until  the  next  session  of 
the  general  assembly,  and,  until  a suc- 
cessor to  his  appointee  shall  be  confirmed 
and  qualified. 

Article  VIII 

PUBLIC  DEBT  AND  PUBLIC  WORKS. 

Section  1.  The  state  may  contract  debts 
to  supply  casual  deficits  or  failures  in  rev- 
enues, or  to  meet  expenses  not  otherwise 
provided  for ; but  the  aggregate  amount  of 
such  debts,  direct  and  contingent,  whether 
contracted  by  virtue  of  one  or  more  acts 
of  the  general  assembly,  or  at  different 
periods  of  time,  shall  never  exceed  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars;  and 
the  money,  arising  from  the  creation  of 
such  debts,  shall  be  applied  to  the  purpose 
for  which  it  was  obtained,  or  to  repay  the 
debts  so  contracted,  and  to  no  other  pur- 
pose whatever. 

Sec.  2.  In  addition  to  the  above  limited 
power,  the  state  may  contract  debts  to 
repel  invasion,  suppress  insurrection,  de- 
fend the  state  in  war,  or  to  redeem  the 
present  outstanding  indebtedness  of  the 
state ; but  the  money,  arising  from  the  con- 
tracting of  such  debts,  shall  be  applied  to 
the  purpose  for  which  it  was  raised,  or  to 
repay  such  debts,  and  to  no  other  purpose 
whatever;  and  all  debts,  incurred  to  re- 
deem the  present  outstanding  indebtedness 
of  the  state,  shall  be  so  contracted  as  to 
be  payable  by  the  sinking  fund,  herein- 


190 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


after  provided  for,  as  the  same  shall  ac- 
cumulate. 

Sec.  3.  Except  the  debts  above  speci- 
fied in  sections  one  and  two  of  this  article, 
no  debt  whatever  shall  hereafter  be  cre- 
ated by  or  on  behalf  of  the  state. 

Sec.  4.  The  credit  of  the  state  shall  not, 
in  any  manner,  be  given  or  loaned  to,  or  in 
aid  of,  any  individual  association  or  cor- 
poration whatever ; nor  shall  the  state  ever 
hereafter  become  a joint  owner,  or  stock- 
holder, in  any  company  or  association  in 
this  state,  or  elsewhere,  formed  for  any 
purpose  whatever. 

Sec.  5.  The  state  shall  never  assume  the 
debts  of  any  county,  city,  town,  or  town- 
ship, or  of  any  corporation  whatever,  un- 
less such  debt  shall  have  been  created  to 
repel  invasion,  suppress  insurrection,  or 
defend  the  state  in  war. 

Sec.  6.  No  laws  shall  be  passed  author- 
izing any  county,  city,  town  or  township, 
by  vote  of  its  citizens,  or  otherwise,  to  be- 
come a stockholder  in  any  joint  stock  com- 
pany, corporation,  or  association  what- 
ever ; or  to  raise  money  for,  or  to  loan  its 
credit  to,  or  in  aid  of,  any  such  company, 
corporation,  or  association : provided,  that 
nothing  in  this  section  shall  prevent  the 
insuring  of  public  buildings  or  property  in 
mutual  insurance  associations  or  com- 
panies. Laws  may  be  passed  providing  for 
the  regulation  of  all  rates  charged  or  to  be 
charged  by  any  insurance  company,  cor- 
poration or  association  organized  under 
the  laws  of  this  state  or  doing  any  insur- 
ance business  in  this  state  for  profit.  (As 
amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  7.  The  faith  of  the  state  being 
pledged  for  the  payment  of  its  public  debt, 
in  order  to  provide  therefor,  there  shall 
be  created  a sinking  fund,  which  shall  be 
sufficient  to  pay  the  accruing  interest  on 
such  debt,  and,  annually,  to  reduce  the 
principal  thereof,  by  a sum  not  less  than 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  increased 
yearly,  and  each  and  every  year,  by  com- 
pounding, at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per 
annum.  The  said  sinking  fund  shall  con- 


sist, of  the  net  annual  income  of  the  public 
works  and  stocks  owned  by  the  state,  of 
any  other  funds  or  resources  that  are,  or 
may  be,  provided  by  law,  and  of  such 
further  sum,  to  be  raised  by  taxation,  as 
may  be  required  for  the  purposes  afore- 
said. 

Sec.  8.  The  auditor  of  state,  secretary 
of  state,  and  attorney  general,  are  hereby 
created  a board  of  commissioners,  to  be 
styled,  “The  Commissioners  of  the  Sink- 
ing Fund.” 

Sec.  9.  The  commissioners  of  the  sink- 
ing fund  shall,  immediately  preceding  each 
regular  session  of  the  general  assembly, 
make  an  estimate  of  the  probable  amount 
of  the  fund,  provided  for  in  the  seventh 
section  of  this  article,  from  all  sources 
except  from  taxation,  and  report  the 
same,  together  with  all  their  proceedings 
relative  to  said  fund  and  the  public  debt, 
to  the  governor,  who  shall  transmit  the 
same  with  his  regular  message,  to  the 
general  assembly;  and  the  general  assem- 
bly shall  make  all  necessary  provision  for 
raising  and  disbursing  said  sinking  fund, 
in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  this 
article. 

Sec.  10.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said 
commissioners  faithfully  to  apply  said 
fund,  together  with  all  moneys  that  may 
be,  by  the  general  assembly,  appropriated 
to  that  object,  to  the  payment  of  the  in- 
terest, as  it  becomes  due,  and  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  principal  of  the  public  debt  of 
the  state,  excepting  only,  the  school  and 
trust  funds  held  by  the  state. 

Sec.  11.  The  said  commissioners  shall, 
semi-annually,  make  a full  and  detailed  re- 
port of  their  proceedings  to  the  governor, 
who  shall,  immediately,  cause  the  same  to 
be  published,  and  shall  also  communicate 
the  same  to  the  general  assembly,  forth- 
with, if  it  be  in  session,  and  if  not,  then 
at  its  first  session  after  such  report  shall 
be  made. 

Sec.  12.  So  long  as  this  state  shall  have 
public  works  which  require  superintend- 
ence, a superintendent  of  public  works 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


191 


shall  be  appointed  by  the  governor  for  the 
term  of  one  year,  with  the  powers  and 
duties  now  exercised  by  the  board  of  public 
works  until  otherwise  provided  by  law, 
and  with  such  other  powers  as  may  be 
provided  by  law.  (As  amended  Septem- 
ber 3,  1912.) 

Sec.  13.  [Repealed  September  3,  1912.] 
Article  IX 

MILITIA. 

Section  1.  All  white  male  citizens,  resi- 
dents of  this  state,  being  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  under  the  age  of  forty-five 
years,  shall  be  enrolled  in  the  militia,  and 
perform  military  duty,  in  such  manner, 
not  incompatible  with  the  constitution  and 
law's  of  the  United  States,  as  may  be  pre- 
scribed by  law. 

Sec.  2.  Majors  general,  brigadiers  gen- 
eral, colonels,  lieutenant  colonels,  majors, 
captains,  and  subalterns,  shall  be  elected 
by  the  persons  subject  to  military  duty,  in 
their  respective  districts.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  V.) 

Sec.  3.  The  governor  shall  appoint  the 
adjutant  general,  quartermaster  general, 
and  such  other  staff  officers,  as  may  be  pro- 
vided for  by  law.  Majors  general,  brig- 
adiers general,  colonels,  or  commandants 
of  regiments,  battalions,  or  squadrons, 
shall,  severally,  appoint  their  staff,  and 
captains  shall  appoint  their  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  musicians.  (See  Const. 
1802,  Art.  V .) 

Sec.  4.  The  governor  shall  commission 
all  officers  of  the  line  and  staff,  ranking  as 
such;  and  shall  have  power  to  call  forth 
the  militia,  to  execute  the  laws  of  the  state, 
to  suppress  insurrection,  and  repel  inva- 
sion. (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  V.) 

Sec.  5.  The  general  assembly  shall  pro- 
vide, by  law7,  for  the  protection  and  safe 
keeping  of  the  public  arms. 

Article  X 

COUNTY  AND  TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATIONS. 

Section  1.  The  general  assembly  shall 
provide,  by  law,  for  the  election  of  such 


county  and  township  officers  as  may  be 
necessary.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VI, 
§§  1,  3.) 

Sec.  2.  County  officers  shall  be  elected 
on  the  first  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday 
in  November,  by  the  electors  of  each 
county  in  such  manner,  and  for  such  term, 
not  exceeding  three  years,  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  law7.  (As  amended  October  13, 
1885;  82  v.  446.) 

Sec.  3.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the 
office  of  sheriff,  or  county  treasurer,  for 
more  than  four  years,  in  any  period  of  six 
years.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art  VI,  § 1.) 

Sec.  4.  Township  officers  shall  be  elected 
by  the  electors  of  each  township,  at  such 
time,  in  such  manner,  and  for  such  term, 
not  exceeding  three  years,  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  law;  but  shall  hold  their  offices 
until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qual- 
ified. (As  amended  October  13,  1885; 
82  v.  449.) 

Sec.  5.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from 
any  county  or  township  treasury,  except 
by  authority  of  law. 

Sec.  6.  Justices  of  the  peace,  and  county 
and  township  officers  may  be  removed,  in 
such  manner  and  for  such  cause,  as  shall 
be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  7.  The  commissioners  of  counties, 
the  trustees  of  townships,  and  similar 
boards,  shall  have  such  power  of  local  tax- 
ation, for  police  purposes,  as  may  be  pre- 
scribed by  law7. 

Article  XI 

APPORTIONMENT 

Section  1.  The  apportionment  of  this 
state  for  members  of  the  general  assembly 
shall  be  made  every  ten  years,  after  the 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
one,  in  the  following  manner ; The  whole 
population  of  the  state,  as  ascertained  by 
the  federal  census,  or  in  such  other  mode 
as  the  general  assembly  may  direct,  shall 
be  divided  by  the  number  “one  hundred,” 
and  the  quotient  shall  be  the  ratio  of  repre- 
sentation in  the  house  of  representatives, 


192 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


for  ten  years  next  succeeding  such  appor- 
tionment. 

Sec.  2.  Every  county  having  a popula- 
tion equal  to  one-half  of  said  ratio,  shall 
be  entitled  to  one  representative;  every 
county,  containing  said  ratio,  and  three- 
fourths  over,  shall  be  entitled  to  two  repre- 
sentatives; every  county  containing  three 
times  said  ratio,  shall  be  entitled  to  three 
representatives ; and  so  on,  requiring  after 
the  first  two,  an  entire  ratio  for  each  addi- 
tional representative.  Provided,  however, 
that  each  county  shall  have  one  repre- 
sentative. (As  amended  November  3, 
1902;  95  v.  967.) 

Sec.  3.  When  any  county  shall  have  a 
fraction  above  the  ratio,  so  large,  that  be- 
ing multiplied  by  five,  the  result  will  be 
equal  to  one  or  more  ratios,  additional  rep- 
resentatives shall  be  apportioned  for  such 
ratios,  among  the  several  sessions  of  the 
decennial  period,  in  the  following  manner : 
If  there  be  only  one  ratio,  a representative 
shall  be  allotted  to  the  fifth  session  of  the 
decennial  period ; if  there  are  two  ratios,  a 
representative  shall  be  allotted  to  the 
fourth  and  third  sessions,  respectively;  if 
three,  to  the  third,  second,  and  first  ses- 
sions, respectively;  if  four,  to  the  fourth, 
third,  second,  and  first  sessions,  respect- 
ively. 

Sec.  4.  Any  county,  forming  with  an- 
other county  or  counties,  a representative 
district,  during  one  decennial  period,  if  it 
have  acquired  sufficient  population  at  the 
next  decennial  period,  shall  be  entitled  to 
a separate  representation,  if  there  shall  be 
left,  in  the  district  from  which  it  shall 
have  been  separated,  a population  suffi- 
cient for  a representative;  but  no  such 
change  shall  be  made,  except  at  the  regular 
decennial  period  for  the  apportionment  of 
representatives. 

Sec.  5.  If,  in  fixing  any  subsequent 
ratio,  a county,  previously  entitled  to  a 
separate  representation,  shall  have  less 
than  the  number  required  by  the  new  ratio 
for  a representative,  such  county  shall  be 
attached  to  the  county  adjoining  it,  having 


the  least  number  of  inhabitants;  and  the 
representation  of  the  district,  so  formed, 
shall  be  determined  as  herein  provided. 

Sec.  6.  The  ratio  for  a senator  shall  for- 
ever, hereafter,  be  ascertained  by  dividing 
the  whole  population  of  the  state  by  the 
number  thirty-five. 

Sec.  7.  The  state  is  hereby  divided  into 
thirty-three  senatorial  districts,  as  fol- 
lows: The  county  of  Hamilton  shall  con- 
stitute the  first  senatorial  district;  the 
counties  of  Butler  and  Warren,  the  second ; 
Montgomery  and  Preble,  the  third;  Cler- 
mont and  Brown,  the  fourth ; Greene,  Clin- 
ton, and  Fayette,  the  fifth ; Ross  and  High- 
land, the  sixth;  Adams,  Pike,  Scioto,  and 
Jackson,  the  seventh;  Lawrence,  Gallia, 
Meigs,  and  Vinton,  the  eighth;  Athens, 
Hocking,  and  Fairfield,  the  ninth;  Frank- 
lin and  Pickaway,  the  tenth ; Clark,  Cham- 
paign, and  Madison,  the  eleventh;  Miami, 
Darke,  and  Shelby,  the  twelfth;  Logan, 
Union,  Marion  and  Hardin,  the  thirteenth ; 
Washington  and  Morgan,  the  fourteenth; 
Muskingum  and  Perry,  the  fifteenth; 
Delaware  and  Licking,  the  sixteenth ; 
Knox  and  Morrow,  the  seventeenth ; 
Coshocton  and  Tuscarawas,  the  eight- 
eenth; Guernsey  and  Monroe,  the  nine- 
teenth; Belmont  and  Harrison,  the  twen- 
tieth ; Carroll  and  Stark,  the  twenty-first ; 
Jefferson  and  Columbiana,  the  twenty- 
second  ; Trumbull  and  Mahoning,  the 
twenty-third;  Ashtabula,  Lake,  and  Ge- 
auga, the  twenty-fourth;  Cuyahoga,  the 
twenty-fifth ; Portage  and  Summit,  the 
twenty-sixth ; Medina  and  Lorain,  the 
twenty-seventh;  Wayne  and  Holmes,  the 
twenty-eighth;  Ashland  and  Richland,  the 
twenty-ninth ; Huron,  Erie,  Sandusky,  and 
Ottawa,  the  thirtieth;  Seneca,  Crawford, 
and  Wyandot,  the  thirty-first ; Mercer, 
Auglaize,  Allen,  Van  Wert,  Paulding,  De- 
fiance, and  Williams,  the  thirty-second; 
and  Hancock,  Wood,  Lucas,  Fulton,  Henry, 
and  Putnam,  the  thirty-third.  For  the 
first  decennial  period,  after  the  adoption 
of  this  constitution,  each  of  said  districts 
shall  be  entitled  to  one  senator,  except  the 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


193 


first  district,  which  shall  be  enttitled  to 
three  senators. 

Sec.  8.  The  same  rules  shall  be  applied, 
in  apportioning  the  fractions  of  senatorial 
districts,  and  in  annexing  districts,  which 
may  hereafter  have  less  than  three-fourths 
of  a senatorial  ratio,  as  are  applied  to  rep- 
resentative districts. 

Sec.  9.  Any  county  forming  part  of  a 
senatorial  district,  having  acquired  a pop- 
ulation equal  to  a full  senatorial  ratio, 
shall  be  made  a separate  senatorial  dis- 
trict, at  any  regular  decennial  apportion- 
ment, if  a full  senatorial  ratio  shall  be  left 
in  the  district  from  which  it  shall  be  taken. 

Sec.  10.  For  the  first  ten  years,  after 
the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-one,  the  apportionment  of  representa- 
tives shall  be  as  provided  in  the  schedule, 
and  no  change  shall  ever  be  made  in  the 
principles  of  representation,  as  herein  es- 
tablished, or,  in  the  senatorial  districts, 
except  as  above  provided.  All  territory, 
belonging  to  a county  at  the  time  of  any 
apportionment,  shall,  as  to  the  right  of 
representation  and  suffrage,  remain  an 
integral  part  thereof,  during  the  decennial 
period. 

Sec.  11.  The  governor,  auditor,  and  sec- 
retary of  state,  or  any  two  of  them,  shall, 
at  least  six  months  prior  to  the  October 
election,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-one,  and,  at  each  decen- 
nial period  thereafter,  ascertain  and  deter- 
mine the  ratio  of  representation,  according 
to  the  decennial  census,  the  number  of  rep- 
resentatives and  senators  each  county  or 
district  shall  be  entitled  to  elect,  and  for 
what  years  within  the  next  ensuing  ten 
years,  and  the  governor  shall  cause  the 
same  to  be  published,  in  such  manner  as 
shall  be  directed  by  law. 

JUDICIAL  APPORTIONMENT. 

Sec.  12.  For  judicial  purposes,  the  state 
shall  be  apportioned  as  follows : 

The  county  of  Hamilton  shall  constitute 
the  first  district,  which  shall  not  be  sub- 
divided; and  the  judges  therein  may  hold 


separate  courts  or  separate  sittings  of  the 
same  court  at  the  same  time. 

The  counties  of  Butler,  Preble  and 
Darke  shall  constitute  the  first  subdivi- 
sion ; Montgomery,  Miami  and  Champaign, 
the  second;  and  Warren,  Clinton,  Greene 
and  Clark,  the  third  subdivision  of  the  sec- 
ond district ; and,  together,  shall  form  such 
district. 

The  counties  of  Shelby,  Auglaize,  Alien, 
Hardin,  Logan,  Union  and  Marion  shall 
constitute  the  first  subdivision;  Mercer, 
Van  Wert,  Putnam,  Paulding,  Defiance, 
Williams,  Henry  and  Fulton,  the  second ; 
and  Wood,  Seneca,  Hancock,  Wyandot  and 
Crawford,  the  third  subdivision  of  the 
third  district;  and,  together,  shall  form 
such  district. 

The  counties  of  Lucas,  Ottawa,  San- 
dusky, Erie  and  Huron  shall  constitute  the 
first  subdivision ; Lorain,  Medina  and  Sum- 
mit, the  second ; and  the  county  of  Cuya- 
hoga, the  third  subdivision  of  the  fourth 
district;  and,  together,  shall  form  such 
district. 

The  counties  of  Clermont,  Brown  and 
Adams  shall  constitute  the  first  subdivi- 
sion ; Highland,  Ross  and  Fayette,  the  sec- 
ond; and  Pickaway,  Franklin  and  Madi- 
son, the  third  subdivision  of  the  fifth  dis- 
trict; and,  together,  shall  form  such  dis- 
trict. 

The  counties  of  Licking,  Knox  and  Dela- 
ware shall  constitute  the  first  subdivision ; 
Morrow,  Richland  and  Ashland,  the  sec- 
ond ; and  Wayne,  Holmes  and  Coshocton, 
the  third  subdivision  of  the  sixth  district ; 
and,  together,  shall  form  such  district. 

The  counties  of  Fairfield,  Perry  and 
Hocking  shall  constitute  the  first  subdivi- 
sion; Jackson,  Vinton,  Pike,  Scioto  and 
Lawrence,  the  second;  and  Gallia,  Meigs, 
Athens  and  Washington,  the  third  subdivi- 
sion of  the  seventh  district;  and,  together, 
shall  form  such  district. 

The  counties  of  Muskingum  and  Morgan 
shall  constitute  the  first  subdivision ; 
Guernsey,  Belmont  and  Monroe,  the  sec- 
ond ; and  Jefferson,  Harrison  and  Tus- 


194 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


carawas,  the  third  subdivision  of  the 
eighth  district;  and,  together,  shall  form 
such  district. 

The  counties  of  Stark,  Carroll  and  Co- 
lumbiana shall  constitute  the  first  subdi- 
vision; Trumbull,  Portage  and  Mahoning, 
the  second;  and  Geauga,  Lake  and  Ashta- 
bula, the  third  subdivision  of  the  ninth 
district;  and,  together,  shall  form  such 
district. 

Sec.  13.  The  general  assembly  shall 
attach  any  new  counties,  that  may  here- 
after be  erected,  to  such  districts,  or  sub- 
divisions thereof,  as  shall  be  most  con- 
venient. 

Article  XII 

FINANCE  AND  TAXATION. 

Section  1.  No  poll  tax  shall  ever  be  lev- 
ied in  this  state,  or  service  required,  which 
may  be  commuted  in  money  or  other  thing 
of  value.  (As  amended  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  2.  Laws  shall  be  passed,  taxing  by 
a uniform  rule,  all  moneys,  credits,  invest- 
ments in  bonds,  stocks,  joint  stock  com- 
panies, or  otherwise;  and  also  all  real  and 
personal  property  according  to  its  true 
value  in  money,  excepting  all  bonds  at 
present  outstanding  of  the  state  of  Ohio 
or  of  any  city,  village,  hamlet,  county,  or 
township  in  this  state  or  which  have  been 
issued  in  behalf  of  the  public  schools  in 
Ohio  and  the  means  of  instruction  in  con- 
nection therewith,  which  bonds  so  at  pres- 
ent outstanding  shall  be  exempt  from  tax- 
ation; but  burying  grounds,  public  school 
houses,  houses  used  exclusively  for  public 
worship,  institutions  used  exclusively  for 
charitable  purposes,  public  property  used 
exclusively  for  any  public  purpose,  and 
personal  property  to  an  amount  not  ex- 
ceeding in  value  five  hundred  dollars,  for 
each  individual,  may,  by  general  laws,  be 
exempted  from  taxation ; but  all  such  laws 
shall  be  subject  to  alteration  or  repeal ; and 
the  value  of  all  property,  so  exempted, 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  be  ascertained 


and  published  as  may  be  directed  by  law. 
(Amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  3.  The  general  assembly  shall  pro- 
vide, by  law,  for  taxing  the  notes  and  bills 
discounted  or  purchased,  moneys  loaned, 
and  all  other  property,1  effects,  or  dues,  of 
every  description  (without  deduction),2  of 
all  banks,  now  existing,  or  hereafter  cre- 
ated, and  of  all  bankers,3  so  that  all  prop- 
erty employed  in  banking,  shall  always 
bear  a burden  of  taxation,  equal  to  that 
imposed  on  the  property  of  individuals.4 

Sec.  4.  The  general  assembly  shall  pro- 
vide for  raising  revenue,  sufficient  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  of  the  state,  for  each 
year,  and  also  a sufficient  sum  to  pay  the 
interest  on  the  state  debt. 

Sec.  5.  No  tax  shall  be  levied,  except  in 
pursuance  of  law ; and  every  law  imposing 
a tax,  shall  state,  distinctly,  the  object  of 
the  same,  to  which  only  it  shall  be  applied. 

Sec.  6.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in 
this  constitution  the  state  shall  never  con- 
tract any  debt  for  purposes  of  internal  im- 
provement. (As  amended  September  3, 
1912.) 

Sec.  7.  Laws  may  be  passed  providing 
for  the  taxation  of  the  right  to  receive,  or 
to  succeed  to,  estates,  and  such  taxation 
may  be  uniform  or  it  may  be  so  graduated 
as  to  tax  at  a higher  rate  the  right  to  re- 
ceive, or  to  succeed  to,  estates  of  larger 
value  than  to  estates  of  smaller  value. 
Such  tax  may  also  be  levied  at  different 
rates  upon  collateral  and  direct  inheri- 
tances, and  a portion  of  each  estate  not 
exceeding  twenty  thousand  dollars  may  be 
exempt  from  such  taxation.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  8.  Laws  may  be  passed  providing 
for  the  taxation  of  incomes,  and  such  tax- 
ation may  be  either  uniform  or  graduated, 
and  may  be  applied  to  such  incomes  as  may 
be  designated  by  law;  but  a part  of  each 
annual  income  not  exceeding  three  thou- 
sand dollars  may  be  exempt  from  such 
taxation.  (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  9.  Not  less  than  fifty  per  centum  of 
the  income  and  inheritance  taxes  that  may 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


195 


be  collected  by  the  state  shall  be  returned 
to  the  city,  village  or  township  in  which 
said  income  and  inheritance  tax  originate. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  10.  Laws  may  be  passed  providing 
for  excise  and  franchise  taxes  and  for  the 
imposition  of  taxes  upon  the  production 
of  coal,  oil,  gas  and  other  minerals. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  11.  No  bonded  indebtedness  of  the 
state,  or  any  political  subdivisions  thereof, 
shall  be  incurred  or  renewed,  unless,  in  the 
legislation  under  which  such  indebtedness 
is  incurred  or  renewed,  provision  is  made 
for  levying  and  collecting  annually  by  tax- 
ation an  amount  sufficient  to  pay  the  in- 
terest on  said  bonds,  and  to  provide  a sink- 
ing fund  for  their  final  redemption  at  ma- 
turity. (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Article  XIII 

CORPORATIONS. 

Section  1.  The  general  assembly  shall 
pass  no  special  act  conferring  corporate 
powers. 

Sec.  2.  Corporations  may  be  formed 
under  general  laws ; but  all  such  laws  may, 
from  time  to  time,  be  altered  or  repealed. 
Corporations  may  be  classified  and  there 
may  be  conferred  upon  proper  boards, 
commissioners  or  officers,  such  supervis- 
ory and  regulatory  powers  over  their  or- 
ganization, business  and  issue  and  sale  of 
stocks  and  securities,  and  over  the  busi- 
ness and  sale  of  the  stocks  and  securities 
of  foreign  corporations  and  joint  stock 
companies  in  this  state,  as  may  be  pre- 
scribed by  law.  Laws  may  be  passed  regu- 
lating the  sale  and  conveyance  of  other 
personal  property,  whether  owned  by  a 
corporation,  joint  stock  company  or  indi- 
vidual. (As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  3.  Dues  from  private  corporations 
shall  be  secured  by  such  means  as  may  be 
prescribed  by  law,  but  in  no  case  shall 
any  stockholder  be  individually  liable  oth- 
erwise than  for  the  unpaid  stock  owned  by 
him  or  her;  except  that  stockholders  of 
corporations  authorized  to  receive  money 


on  deposit  shall  be  held  individually  re- 
sponsible, equally  and  ratably,  and  not  one 
for  another,  for  all  contracts,  debts,  and 
engagements  of  such  corporations,  to  the 
extent  of  the  amount  of  their  stock  therein, 
at  the  par  value  thereof,  in  addition  to  the 
amount  invested  in  such  shares.  No  cor- 
poration not  organized  under  the  laws  of 
this  state,  or  of  the  United  States,  or  per- 
son, partnership  or  association  shall  use 
the  word  “bank,”  “banker”  or  “banking,” 
or  words  of  similar  meaning  in  any  for- 
eign language,  as  a designation  or  name 
under  which  business  may  be  conducted  in 
this  state  unless  such  corporation,  person, 
partnership  or  association  shall  submit  to 
inspection,  examination  and  regulation  as 
may  hereafter  be  provided  by  the  laws  of 
this  state.  (As  amended  September  3. 
1912.) 

Sec.  4.  The  property  of  corporations, 
now  existing  or  hereafter  created,  shall 
forever  be  subject  to  taxation,  the  same  as 
the  property  of  individuals. 

Sec.  5.  No  right  of  way  shall  be  appro- 
priated to  the  use  of  any  corporation,  until 
full  compensation  therefore  be  first  made 
in  money,  or  first  secured  by  a deposit  of 
money,  to  the  owner,  irrespective  of  any 
benefit  from  any  improvement  proposed  by 
such  corporation ; which  compensation 
shall  be  ascertained  by  a jury  of  twelve 
men,  in  a court  of  record,  as  shall  be  pre- 
scribed by  law. 

Sec.  6.  The  general  assembly  shall  pro- 
vide for  the  organization  of  cities  and  in- 
corporated villages,  by  general  laws,  and 
restrict  their  power  of  taxation,  assess- 
ment, borrowing  money,  contracting  debts 
and  loaning  their  credit,  so  as  to  prevent 
the  abuse  of  such  power. 

Sec.  7.  No  act  of  the  general  assembly, 
authorizing  associations  with  banking 
powers,  shall  take  effect  until  it  shall  be 
submitted  to  the  people,  at  the  general 
election  next  succeeding  the  passage 
thereof,  and  be  approved  by  a majority  of 
all  the  electors  voting  at  such  election. 


196 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


ARTICLE  XIV. 

JURISPRUDENCE. 

Section  1.  The  general  assembly,  at  its 
first  session  after  the  adoption  of  this  con- 
stitution, shall  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  three  commissioners,  and  pre- 
scribe their  tenure  of  office,  compensation, 
and  the  mode  of  filling  vacancies  in  said 
commission. 

Sec.  2.  The  said  commissioners  shall 
revise,  reform,  simplify,  and  abridge  the 
practice,  pleadings,  forms  and  proceedings 
of  the  courts  of  record  of  this  state;  and, 
as  far  as  practicable  and  expedient,  shall 
provide  for  the  abolition  of  the  distinct 
forms  of  action  at  law,  now  in  use,  and  for 
the  administration  of  justice  by  a uniform 
mode  of  proceeding,  without  reference  to 
any  distinction  between  law  and  equity. 

Sec.  3.  The  proceedings  of  the  commis- 
sioners shall,  from  time  to  time,  be  re- 
ported to  the  general  assembly,  and  be 
subject  to  the  action  of  that  body. 

Article  XV 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Section  1.  Columbus  shall  be  the  seat  of 
government,  until  otherwise  directed  by 
law.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VII,  § 4.) 

Sec.  2.  The  printing  of  the  laws,  jour- 
nals, bills,  legislative  documents  and  pa- 
pers for  each  branch  of  the  general  assem- 
bly, with  the  printing  required  for  the 
executive  and  other  departments  of  state, 
shall  be  let,  on  contract,  to  the  lowest  re- 
sponsible bidder,  or  done  directly  by  the 
state  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  prescribed 
by  law.  AH  stationery  and  supplies  shall 
be  purchased  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 
(Amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  3.  An  accurate  and  detailed  state- 
ment of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of 
the  public  money,  the  several  amounts 
paid,  to  whom,  and  on  what  account,  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  be  published,  as  shall  be 
prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  4.  No  person  shall  be  elected  or 
appointed  to  any  office  in  this  state,  unless 


he  possess  the  qualifications  of  an  elector. 

Sec.  5.  No  person  who  shall  hereafter 
fight  a duel,  assist  in  the  same  as  second, 
or  send,  accept,  or  knowingly  carry,  a 
challenge  therefor,  shall  hold  any  office  in 
this  state. 

Sec.  6.  Lotteries,  and  the  sale  of  lottery 
tickets,  for  any  purpose  whatever,  shall 
forever  be  prohibited  in  this  state. 

Sec.  7.  Every  person  chosen  or  ap- 
pointed to  any  office  under  this  state,  be- 
fore entering  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  shall  take  an  oath  or  affirmation,  to 
support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  this  state,  and  also  an  oath 
of  office.  (See  Const.  1802,  Art.  VII,  § 1.) 

Sec.  8.  There  may  be  established,  in  the 
secretary  of  state’s  office,  a bureau  of  sta- 
tistics, under  such  regulations  as  may  be 
prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  9.  License  to  traffic  in  intoxicating 
liquors  shall  be  granted  in  this  state,  and 
license  laws  operative  throughout  the  state 
shall  be  passed  with  such  restrictions  and 
regulations  as  may  be  provided  by  law,  and 
municipal  corporations  shall  be  authorized 
by  general  laws  to  provide  for  the  limita- 
tion of  the  number  of  saloons.  Laws  shall 
not  be  passed  authorizing  more  than  one 
saloon  in  each  township  or  municipality 
of  less  than  five  hundred  population,  or 
more  than  one  saloon  for  each  five  hundred 
population  in  other  townships  and  munic- 
ipalities. Where  the  traffic  is  or  may  be 
prohibited  under  laws  applying  to  coun- 
ties, municipalities,  townships,  residence 
districts,  or  other  districts  now  prescribed 
by  law,  the  traffic  shall  not  be  licensed  in 
any  such  local  subdivision  while  any  pro- 
hibitory law  is  operative  therein,  and  noth- 
ing herein  contained  shall  be  so  construed 
as  to  repeal,  modify  or  suspend  any  such 
prohibitory  laws,  or  any  regulatory  laws 
now  in  force  or  hereafter  enacted,  or  to 
prevent  the  future  enactment,  modification 
or  repeal  of  any  prohibitory  or  regulatory 
laws.  License  to  traffic  in  intoxicating 
liquors  shall  not  be  granted  to  any  person 
who  at  the  time  of  making  application 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


197 


therefor  is  not  a citizen  of  the  United 
States  and  of  good  moral  character.  Li- 
cense shall  not  be  granted  to  any  applicant 
who  is  in  any  way  interested  in  the  busi- 
ness conducted  at  any  other  place  where 
intoxicating  liquors  are  sold  or  kept  for 
sale  as  a beverage,  nor  shall  such  license 
be  granted  unless  the  applicant  or  appli- 
cants are  the  only  persons  in  any  way 
pecuniarily  interested  in  the  business  for 
which  the  license  is  sought,  and  no  other 
person  shall  be  in  any  way  interested 
therein  during  the  continuance  of  the  li- 
cense ; if  such  interest  of  such  person  shall 
appear,  the  license  shall  be  deemed  re- 
voked. If  any  licensee  is  more  than  once 
convicted  for  a violation  of  the  laws  in 
force  to  regulate  the  traffic  in  intoxicating 
liquors,  his  license  shall  be  deemed  re- 
voked, and  no  license  shall  thereafter  be 
granted  to  him.  License  to  traffic  in  in- 
toxicating liquors  shall  not  be  granted  un- 
less the  place  of  traffic  under  such  license 
shall  be  located  in  the  county  in  which  the 
person  or  persons  reside  whose  duty  it  is 
to  grant  such  license,  or  in  a county  ad- 
joining thereto.  The  word  “saloon”  as 
used  in  this  section  is  defined  to  be  a place 
where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold,  or  kept 
for  sale,  as  a beverage  in  quantities  less 
than  one  gallon. 

INTOXICATING  LIQUORS. 


For  License  to  traffic  in  intoxi- 
cating liquors. 


Against  License  to  traffic  in  in- 
toxicating liquors. 


The  voter  shall  indicate  his  choice  by 
placing  a cross-mark  within  the  blank 
space  opposite  the  words  “For  License” 
if  he  desires  to  vote  in  favor  of  the  article 
above  mentioned,  and  opposite  the  words 
“Against  License”  within  the  blank  space 
if  he  desires  to  vote  against  said  article. 


If  a cross-mark  is  placed  opposite  both 
phrases  or  neither  phrase,  then  the  vote 
upon  the  subject  shall  not  be  counted. 

If  the  votes  for  license  shall  exceed  the 
votes  against  license,  then  the  article  above 
mentioned  shall  become  section  9 of  article 
XV  of  the  constitution,  and  the  present 
section  9 of  said  article,  also  known  as 
section  18  of  the  schedule,  shall  be  re- 
pealed. (As  amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  10.  Appointments  and  promotions 
in  the  civil  service  of  the  state,  the  several 
counties  and  cities,  shall  be  made  accord- 
ing to  merit  and  fitness,  to  be  ascertained, 
as  far  as  practicable,  by  competitive  exam- 
inations. Laws  shall  be  passed  providing 
for  the  enforcement  of  this  provision. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Article  XVI. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Section  1.  Either  branch  of  the  general 
assembly  may  propose  amendments  to  this 
constitution;  and,  if  the  same  shall  be 
agreed  to  by  three-fifths  of  the  members 
elected  to  each  house,  such  proposed 
amendments  shall  be  entered  on  the  jour- 
nals, with  the  yeas  and  nays,  and  shall  be 
submitted  to  the  electors,  for  their  ap- 
proval or  rejection,  on  a separate  ballot, 
without  party  designation  of  any  kind,  at 
either  a special  or  a general  election,  as 
the  general  assembly  may  prescribe.  Such 
proposed  amendments  shall  be  published 
once  a week  for  five  consecutive  weeks  pre- 
ceding such  election,  in  at  least  one  news- 
paper in  each  county  of  the  state  where  a 
newspaper  is  published.  If  the  majority 
of  the  electors  voting  on  the  same  shall 
adopt  such  amendments  the  same  shall  be- 
come a part  of  the  constitution.  When 
more  than  one  amendment  shall  be  sub- 
mitted at  the  same  time,  they  shall  be  so 
submitted  as  to  enable  the  electors  to  vote 
on  each  amendment  separately.  (As 
amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  two-thirds  of  the 
members  elected  to  each  branch  of  the 
general  assembly  shall  think  it  necessary 


19S 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


to  call  a convention,  to  revise,  amend  or 
change  this  constitution,  they  shall  recom- 
mend to  the  electors  to  vote  on  a separate 
ballot,  without  party  designation  of  any 
kind,  at  the  next  election  for  members  to 
the  general  assembly,  for  or  against  a con- 
vention; and  if  a majority  of  all  the  elect- 
ors, voting  for  and  against  the  calling  of  a 
convention,  shall  have  voted  for  a conven- 
tion, the  general  assembly  shall,  at  their 
next  session,  provide,  by  law,  for  calling 
the  same.  Candidates  for  members  of  the 
constitutional  convention  shall  be  nom- 
inated by  nominating  petitions  only  and 
shall  be  voted  for  upon  one  independent 
and  separate  ballot,  without  any  emblem 
or  party  designation  whatever.  The  con- 
vention shall  consist  of  as  many  members 
as  the  house  of  representatives,  who  shall 
be  chosen  as  provided  by  law,  and  shall 
meet  within  three  months  after  their  elec- 
tion for  the  purpose  aforesaid.  (As 
amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  3.  At  the  general  election  to  be 
held  in  the  year  one  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two,  and  in  each  twentieth 
year  thereafter,  the  question : “Shall  there 
be  a convention  to  revise,  alter  or  amend 
the  constitution,”  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
electors  of  the  state ; and  in  case  a major- 
ity of  the  electors,  voting  for  and  against 
the  calling  of  a convention,  shall  decide  in 
favor  of  a convention,  the  general  assem- 
bly, at  its  next  session,  shall  provide,  by 
lav/,  for  the  election  of  delegates,  and  the 
assembling  of  such  convention,  as  is  pro- 
vided in  the  preceding  section;  but  no 
amendment  of  this  constitution,  agreed 
upon  by  any  convention  assembled  in  pur- 
suance of  this  article,  shall  take  effect 
until  the  same  shall  have  been  submitted 
to  the  electors  of  the  state  and  adopted  by 
a majority  of  those  voting  thereon.  (As 
amended  September  3,  1912.) 

Article  XVII. 

ELECTIONS. 

Section  1.  Elections  for  state  and 
county  officers  shall  be  held  on  the  first 


Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber in  the  even  numbered  years;  and  all 
elections  for  all  other  elective  officers  shall 
be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  after  the  first 
Monday  in  November  in  the  odd  numbered 
years.  [As  adopted  November  7,  1905; 
97  v.  640.] 

Sec.  2.  The  term  of  office  of  the  gov- 
ernor, lieutenant  governor,  attorney-gen- 
eral, secretary  of  state,  and  treasurer  of 
state  shall  be  two  years,  and  that  of  the 
auditor  of  state  shall  be  four  years.  The 
term  of  office  of  judges  of  the  supreme 
court  and  circuit  courts  shall  be  such  even 
number  of  years  not  less  than  six  (6) 
years  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  general 
assembly;  that  of  the  judges  of  the  com- 
mon pleas  court  six  (6)  years,  and  of  the 
judges  of  the  probate  court  four  (4)  years, 
and  that  of  other  judges  shall  be  such  even 
number  of  years  not  exceeding  six  (6) 
years  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  general 
assembly.  The  term  of  office  of  justices  of 
the  peace  shall  be  such  even  number  of 
years  not  exceeding  four  (4)  years,  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  the  general  assembly. 
The  term  of  office  of  the  members  of  the 
board  of  public  works  shall  be  such  even 
number  of  years  not  exceeding  six  (6) 
years,  as  may  be  so  prescribed;  and  the 
term  of  office  of  all  elective  county,  town- 
ship, municipal  and  school  officers  shall  be 
such  even  number  of  years  not  exceeding- 
four  (4)  years  as  may  be  so  prescribed. 

And  the  general  assembly  shall  have 
power  to  so  extend  existing  terms  of  office 
as  to  affect  the  purpose  of  section  1 of  this 
article. 

Any  vacancy  which  may  occur  in  any 
elective  state  office  other  than  that  of  a 
member  of  the  general  assembly  or  of  gov- 
ernor, shall  be  filled  by  appointment  by  the 
governor  until  the  disability  is  removed, 
or  a successor  elected  and  qualified.  Every 
such  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  election  at 
the  first  general  election  for  the  office 
which  is  vacant  that  occurs  more  than 
thirty  (30)  days  after  the  vacancy  shall 
have  occurred.  The  person  elected  shall 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


199 


fill  the  office  for  the  unexpired  term.  All 
vacancies  in  other  elective  offices  shall  be 
filled  for  the  unexpired  term  in  such  man- 
ner as  may  be  prescribed  by  law.  [As 
adopted  November  7,  1905 ; 97  v.  641.] 

Sec.  3.  Every  elective  officer  holding 
office  when  this  amendment  is  adopted 
shall  continue  to  hold  such  office  for  the 
full  term  for  which  he  was  elected,  and 
until  his  successor  shall  be  elected  and 
qualified  as  provided  by  law.  [As 
adopted  November  7,  1905 ; 97  v.  641.] 

Article  XVIII. 

MUNICIPAL  CORPORATIONS. 

Section  1.  Municipal  corporations  are 
hereby  classified  into  cities  and  villages. 
All  such  corporations  having  a population 
of  five  thousand  or  over  shall  be  cities ; all 
others  shall  be  villages.  The  method  of 
transition  from  one  class  to  the  other  shall 
be  regulated  by  law.  (Adopted  Septem- 
ber 3,  1912.) 

Sec.  2.  General  laws  shall  be  passed  to 
provide  for  the  incorporation  and  govern- 
ment of  cities  and  villages ; and  additional 
laws  may  also  be  passed  for  the  govern- 
ment of  municipalities  adopting  the  same ; 
but  no  such  additional  law  shall  become 
operative  in  any  municipality  until  it 
shall  have  been  submitted  to  the  electors 
thereof,  and  affirmed  by  a majority  of 
those  voting  thereon,  under  regulations  to 
be  established  by  law.  (Adopted  Septem- 
ber 3,  1912.) 

Sec.  3.  Municipalities  shall  have  au- 
thority to  exercise  all  powers  of  local  self- 
government  and  to  adopt  and  enforce 
within  their  limits  such  local  police,  sani- 
tary and  other  similar  regulations  as 
are  not  in  conflict  with  general  laws. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  4.  Any  municipality  may  acquire, 
construct,  own,  lease  and  operate  within  or 
without  its  corporate  limits,  any  public 
utility  the  product  of  service  of  which  is  or 
is  to  be  supplied  to  the  municipality  or  its 
inhabitants,  and  may  contract  with  others 
for  any  such  product  or  service.  The 


acquisition  of  any  such  public  utility  may 
be  by  condemnation  or  otherwise,  and  a 
municipality  may  acquire  thereby  the  use 
of,  or  full  title  to,  the  property  and  fran- 
chise of  any  company  or  person  supplying 
to  the  municipality  or  its  inhabitants  the 
service  or  product  of  any  such  utility. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  5.  Any  municipality  proceeding  to 
acquire,  construct,  own,  lease  or  operate 
a public  utility,  or  to  contract  with  any 
person  or  company  therefor,  shall  act  by 
ordinance,  and  no  such  ordinance  shall 
take  effect  until  after  thirty  days  from 
its  passage.  If  within  said  thirty  days  a 
petition  signed  by  ten  per  centum  of  the 
electors  of  the  municipality  shall  be  filed 
with  the  executive  authority  thereof  de- 
manding a referendum  on  such  ordinance, 
it  shall  not  take  effect  until  submitted  to 
the  electors  and  approved  by  a majority  of 
those  voting  thereon.  The  submission  of 
any  such  question  shall  be  governed  by  all 
the  provisions  of  section  8 of  this  article 
as  to  the  submission  of  the  question  of 
choosing  a charter  commission.  (Adopted 
September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  6.  Any  municipality,  owning  or 
operating  a public  utility  for  the  purpose 
of  supplying  the  service  or  product  thereof 
to  the  municipality  or  its  inhabitants,  may 
also  sell  and  deliver  to  others  any  trans- 
portation service  of  such  utility  and  the 
surplus  product  of  any  other  utility  in  an 
amount  not  exceeding  in  either  case  fifty 
per  centum  of  the  total  service  or  product 
supplied  by  such  utility  within  the  munic- 
ipality. (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  7.  Any  municipality  may  frame 
and  adopt  or  amend  a charter  for  its  gov- 
ernment, and  may,  subject  to  the  pro- 
visions of  section  3 of  this  article,  exercise 
thereunder  all  powers  of  local  self-govern- 
ment. (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  8.  The  legislative  authority  of  any 
city  or  village  may,  by  a two-thirds  vote  of 
its  members,  and  upon  petition  of  ten  per 
centum  of  the  electors,  shall  forthwith 
provide  by  ordinance  for  the  submission  to 


200 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  electors  of  the  question,  “Shall  a com- 
mission be  chosen  to  frame  a charter?” 
The  ordinance  providing  for  the  submis- 
sion of  such  question  shall  require  that  it 
be  submitted  to  the  electors  at  the  next 
regular  municipal  election,  if  one  shall 
occur  not  less  than  sixty  nor  more  than 
one  hundred  and  twenty  days  after  its 
passage ; otherwise  it  shall  provide  for  the 
submission  of  the  question  at  a special  elec- 
tion to  be  called  and  held  within  the  time 
aforesaid.  The  ballot  containing  such 
question  shall  bear  no  party  designation, 
and  provision  shall  be  made  thereon  for 
the  election  from  the  municipality  at  large 
of  fifteen  electors  who  shall  constitute  a 
commission  to  frame  a charter;  provided 
that  a majority  of  the  electors  voting  on 
such  question  shall  have  voted  in  the  af- 
firmative. Any  charter  so  framed  shall  be 
submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  munic- 
ipality at  an  election  to  be  held  at  a time 
fixed  by  the  charter  commission  and  within 
one  year  from  the  date  of  its  election,  pro- 
vision for  which  shall  be  made  by  the  leg- 
islative authority  of  the  municipality  in  so 
far  as  not  prescribed  by  general  law.  Not 
less  than  thirty  days  prior  to  such  election 
the  clerk  of  the  municipality  shall  mail  a 
copy  of  the  proposed  charter  to  each 
elector  whose  name  appears  upon  the  poll 
or  registration  books  of  the  last  regular 
or  general  election  held  therein.  If  such 
proposed  charter  is  approved  by  a major- 
ity of  the  electors  voting  thereon,  it  shall 
become  the  charter  of  such  municipality 
at  the  time  fixed  therein.  (Adopted  Sep- 
tember 3,  1912.) 

Sec.  9.  Amendments  to  any  charter 
framed  and  adopted  as  herein  provided 
may  be  submitted  to  the  electors  of  a mu- 
nicipality by  a two-thirds  vote  of  the  legis- 
lative authority  thereof,  and,  upon  peti- 
tions signed  by  ten  per  centum  of  the  elect- 
ors of  the  municipality  setting  forth  any 
such  proposed  amendment,  shall  be  sub- 
mitted by  such  legislative  authority.  The 
submission  of  proposed  amendments  to  the 
electors  shall  be  governed  by  the  require- 


ments of  section  8 as  to  the  submission  of 
the  question  of  choosing  a charter  com- 
mission; and  copies  of  proposed  amend- 
ments shall  be  mailed  to  the  electors  as 
hereinbefore  provided  for  copies  of  a pro- 
posed charter.  If  any  such  amendment  is 
approved  by  a majority  of  the  electors 
voting  thereon,  it  shall  become  a part  of 
the  charter  of  the  municipality.  A copy  of 
said  charter  or  any  amendment  thereto 
shall  be  certified  to  the  secretary  of  state 
within  thirty  days  after  adoption  by  a 
referendum  vote.  (Adopted  September 
3,  1912.) 

Sec.  10.  A municipality  appropriating 
or  otherwise  acquiring  property  for  public 
use  may  in  furtherance  of  such  public  use 
appropriate  or  acquire  an  excess  over  that 
actually  to  be  occupied  by  the  improve- 
ment, and  may  sell  such  excess  with  such 
restrictions  as  shall  be  appropriate  to  pre- 
serve the  improvement  made.  Bonds  may 
be  issued  to  supply  the  funds  in  whole  or 
in  part  to  pay  for  the  excess  property  so 
appropriated  or  otherwise  acquired,  but 
said  bonds  shall  be  a lieu  only  against  the 
property  so  acquired  for  the  improvement 
and  excess,  and  they  shall  not  be  a liability 
of  the  municipality  nor  be  included  in  any 
limitation  of  the  bonded  indebtedness  of 
such  municipality  prescribed  by  law. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  11.  Any  municipality  appropria- 
ting private  property  for  a public  improve- 
ment may  provide  money  therefore  in  part 
by  assessments  upon  benefited  property 
not  in  excess  of  the  special  benefits  con- 
ferred upon  such  property  by  the  improve- 
ments. Said  assessments,  however,  upon 
all  the  abutting,  adjacent,  and  other  prop- 
erty in  the  district  benefited  shall  in  no 
case  be  levied  for  more  than  fifty  per  cen- 
tum of  the  cost  of  such  appropriation. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  12.  Any  municipality  which  ac- 
quires, constructs  or  extends  any  public 
utility  and  desires  to  raise  money  for  such 
purposes  may  issue  mortgage  bonds  there- 
for beyond  the  general  limit  of  bonded 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


201 


indebtedness  prescribed  by  law;  provided 
that  such  mortgage  bonds  issued  beyond 
the  general  limit  of  bonded  indebtedness 
prescribed  by  law  shall  not  impose  any 
liability  upon  such  municipality  but  shall 
be  secured  only  upon  the  property  and  rev- 
enues of  such  public  utility,  including  a 
franchise  stating  the  terms  upon  which,  in 
case  of  foreclosure,  the  purchaser  may 
operate  the  same,  which  franchise  shall  in 
no  case  extend  for  a longer  period  than 
twenty  years  from  the  date  of  the  sale  of 
such  utility  and  franchise  on  foreclosure. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  13.  Laws  may  be  passed  to  limit 
the  power  of  municipalities  to  levy  taxes 
and  incur  debts  for  local  purposes,  and 
may  require  reports  from  municipalities 
as  to  their  financial  condition  and  trans- 
actions, in  such  form  as  may  be  provided 
by  law,  and  may  provide  for  the  examina- 
tion of  the  vouchers,  books  and  accounts 
of  all  municipal  authorities,  or  of  public 
undertakings  conducted  by  such  author- 
ities. (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Sec.  14.  All  elections  and  submissions 
of  questions  provided  for  in  this  article 
shall  be  conducted  by  the  election  author- 
ities, prescribed  by  general  law.  The  per- 
centage of  electors  required  to  sign  any 
petition  provided  for  herein  shall  be  based 
upon  the  total  vote  cast  at  the  last  pre- 
ceding general  municipal  election. 
(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

Schedule 

If  the  foregoing  amendment  to  the  con- 
stitution be  adopted  by  the  electors  and  be- 
come a part  of  the  constitution,  it  shall 
take  effect  on  November  15,  1912. 

(Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

SCHEDULE 

Section  1.  All  laws  of  this  state,  in 
force  on  the  first  day  of  September  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  not 
inconsistent  with  this  constitution,  shall 
continue  in  force,  until  amended,  or  re- 
pealed. (See  Const.  1802,  Sched.  § 4.) 

Sec.  2.  The  first  election  for  members 
of  the  general  assembly,  under  this  con- 


stitution, shall  be  held  on  the  second  Tues- 
day of  October,  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty-one. 

Sec.  3.  The  first  election  for  governor, 
lieutenant  governor,  auditor,  treasurer, 
and  secretary  of  state  and  attorney  gen- 
eral, shall  be  held  on  the  second  Tuesday 
of  October,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-one.  The  persons,  holding  said 
offices  on  the  first  day  of  September,  one 
thousand,  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one, 
shall  continue  therein,  until  the  second  of 
January,  one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-two. 

Sec.  4.  The  first  election  for  judges  of 
the  supreme  court,  courts  of  common 
pleas,  and  probate  courts,  and  clerks  of 
the  courts  of  common  pleas,  shall  be  held 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  one 
thousand  eight  hunlred  and  fifty-one,  and 
the  official  term  of  said  judges  and  clerks, 
so  elected,  shall  commence  on  the  second 
Monday  of  February,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty -two.  Judges  and  clerks 
of  the  courts  of  common  pleas  and  su- 
preme court,  in  office  on  the  first  day  of 
September,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-one,  shall  continue  in  office  with 
their  present  powers  and  duties,  until  the 
second  Monday  of  February,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-two.  No  suit  or 
proceeding,  pending  in  any  of  the  courts 
of  this  state,  shall  be  affected  by  the  adop- 
tion of  this  constitution.  (See  Art.  IV, 
§ 7,  note  2;  § 13,  note.) 

Sec.  5.  The  register  and  receiver  of  the 
land  office,  directors  of  the  penitentiary, 
directors  of  the  benevolent  institutions  of 
the  state,  the  state  librarian,  and  all  other 
officers,  not  otherwise  provided  for  in  this 
constitution,  in  office  on  the  first  day  of 
September,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-one,  shall  continue  in  office,  until 
their  terms  expire,  respectively,  unless  the 
general  assembly  shall  otherwise  provide. 

Sec.  6.  The  superior  and  commercial 
courts  of  Cincinnati,  and  the  superior 
court  of  Cleveland,  shall  remain,  until 
otherwise  provided  by  law,  with  their 
present  powers  and  jurisdiction;  and  the 


202 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


judges  and  clerks  of  said  courts,  in  office 
on  the  first  day  of  September,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  shall 
continue  in  office,  until  the  expiration  of 
their  terms  of  office,  respectively,  or,  until 
otherwise  provided  by  law;  but  neither  of 
said  courts  shall  continue  after  the  second 
Monday  of  February,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty -three ; and  no  suits  shall 
be  commenced  in  said  two  first  mentioned 
courts,  after  the  second  Monday  of  Feb- 
ruary, one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-two,  nor  in  said  last  mentioned  court, 
after  the  second  Monday  in  August,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two ; and 
all  business  in  either  of  said  courts,  not 
disposed  of  within  the  time  limited  for 
their  continuance  as  aforesaid,  shall  be 
transferred  to  the  court  of  common  pleas. 

Sec.  7.  All  county  and  township  officers 
and  justices  of  the  peace,  in  office  on  the 
first  day  of  September,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty-one,  shall  continue  in 
office  until  their  terms  expire,  respect- 
ively. 

Sec.  8.  Vacancies  in  office,  occurring 
after  the  first  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one, 
shall  be  filled,  as  is  now  prescribed  by 
law,  and  until  officers  are  elected  or  ap- 
pointed, and  qualified,  under  this  constitu- 
tion. 

Sec.  9.  This  constitution  shall  take 
effect,  on  the  first  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one. 

Sec.  10.  All  officers  shall  continue  in 
office,  until  their  successors  shall  be 
chosen  and  qualified.  ( See  Const.  1802, 
Schecl.  § 3.) 

Sec.  11.  Suits  pending  in  the  supreme 
court  in  bank,  shall  be  transferred  to  the 
supreme  court  provided  for  in  this  consti- 
tution, and  be  proceeded  in  according  to 
law. 

Sec.  12.  The  district  courts  shall,  in 
their  respective  counties,  be  the  successors 
of  the  present  supreme  court;  and  all 
suits,  prosecutions,  judgments,  records, 
and  proceedings,  pending  and  remaining 


in  said  supreme  court,  in  the  several 
counties  of  any  district,  shall  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  respective  district  courts  of 
such  counties,  and  be  proceeded  in,  as 
though  no  change  had  been  made  in  said 
supreme  court. 

Sec.  13.  The  said  courts  of  common 
pleas,  shall  be  the  successors  of  the  pres- 
ent courts  of  common  pleas  in  the  several 
counties,  except  as  to  probate  jurisdiction; 
and  all  suits,  prosecutions,  proceedings, 
records  and  judgments,  pending  or  being 
in  said  last  mentioned  courts,  except  as 
aforesaid,  shall  be  transferred  to  the 
courts  of  common  pleas  created  by  this 
constitution,  and  proceeded  in,  as  though 
the  same  had  been  therein  instituted. 

Sec.  14.  The  probate  courts  provided 
for  in  this  constitution,  as  to  all  matters 
within  the  jurisdiction  conferred  upon 
said  courts,  shall  be  the  successors,  in  the 
several  counties  of  the  present  courts  of 
common  pleas;  and  the  records,  files,  and 
papers,  business  and  proceedings,  apper- 
taining to  said  jurisdiction,  shall  be  trans- 
ferred to  said  courts  of  probate,  and  be 
there  proceeded  in,  according  to  law. 

Sec.  15.  Until  otherwise  provided  by 
law,  elections  for  judges  and  clerks  shall 
be  held,  and  the  poll  books  returned,  as  is 
provided  for  governor,  and  the  abstract 
therefrom,  certified  to  the  secretary  of 
state,  shall  be  by  him  opened,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  governor,  who  shall  declare  the 
result,  and  issue  commissions  to  the  per- 
sons elected. 

Sec.  16.  Where  two  or  more  counties 
are  joined  in  a senatorial,  representative, 
or  judicial  district,  the  returns  of  elections 
shall  be  sent  to  the  county,  having  the  lar- 
gest population. 

Sec.  17.  The  foregoing  constitution 
shall  be  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the 
state,  at  an  election  to  be  held  on  the  third 
Tuesday  of  June,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty-one,  in  the  several  elec- 
tion districts  of  this  state.  The  ballots  at 
such  election  shall  be  written  or  printed  as 
follows:  Those  in  favor  of  the  constitu- 


the;  constitution  of  ohio 


203 


tion,  “New  Constitution,  Yes”;  those 
against  the  constitution,  “New  Constitu- 
tion, No.”  The  polls  at  said  election  shall 
be  opened  between  the  hours  of  eight  and 
ten  o’clock  a.  m.,  and  closed  at  six  o’clock 
p.  m. ; and  the  said  election  shall  be  con- 
ducted, and  the  returns  thereof  made  and 
certified,  to  the  secretary  of  state,  as  pro- 
vided by  law  for  annual  elections  of  state 
and  county  officers.  Within  twenty  days 
after  such  election,  the  secretary  of  state 
shall  open  the  returns  thereof,  in  the 
presence  of  the  governor;  and,  if  it  shall 
appear  that  a majority  of  all  the  votes, 
cast  at  such  election,  are  in  favor  of  the 
constitution,  the  governor  shall  issue  his 
proclamation,  stating  that  fact,  and  said 
constitution  shall  be  the  constitution  of  the 
state  of  Ohio,  and  not  otherwise. 

Sec.  18.  At  the  time  when  the  votes  of 
the  electors  shall  be  taken  for  the  adoption 
or  rejection  of  this  constitution,  the  addi- 
tional section,  in  the  words  following,  to- 
wit : “No  license  to  traffic  in  intoxicating 
liquors  shall  hereafter  be  granted  in  this 
state;  but  the  general  assembly  may,  by 
law,  provide  against  evils  resulting 
therefrom,”  shall  be  separately  submitted 
to  the  electors  for  adoption  or  rejection, 
in  form  following,  to-wit : A separate  bal- 
lot may  be  given  by  every  elector  and  de- 
posited in  a separate  box.  Upon  the  bal- 
lots given  for  said  separate  amendment 
shall  be  written  or  printed,  or  partly 
written  and  partly  printed,  the  words : 
“License  to  sell  intoxicating  liquors,  Yes” ; 
and  upon  the  ballots  given  against  said 
amendments,  in  like  manner,  the  words: 
“License  to  sell  intoxicating  liquors,  No.” 
If,  at  the  said  election,  a majority  of  all 
the  votes  given  for  and  against  said 
amendment,  shall  contain  the  words:  “Li- 
cense to  sell  intoxicating  liquors,  No,” 
then  the  said  amendment  shall  be  a sepa- 
rate section  of  article  fifteen  of  the  con- 
stitution. 

Sec.  19.  The  apportionment  of  the 
house  for  representatives,  during  the  first 


decennial  period  under  this  constitution, 
shall  be  as  follows : 

The  counties  of  Adams,  Allen,  Athens, 
Auglaize,  Carroll,  Champaign,  Clark, 
Clinton,  Crawford,  Darke,  Delaware,  Erie, 
Fayette,  Gallia,  Geauga,  Greene,  Hancock, 
Harrison,  Hocking,  Holmes,  Lake,  Law- 
rence, Logan,  Madison,  Marion,  Meigs, 
Morrow,  Perry,  Pickaway,  Pike,  Preble, 
Sandusky,  Scioto,  Shelby  and  Union,  shall, 
severally,  be  entitled  to  one  representative, 
in  each  session  of  the  decennial  period. 

The  counties  of  Franklin,  Licking, 
Montgomery,  and  Stark,  shall  each  be  en- 
titled to  two  representatives,  in  each  ses- 
sion of  the  decennial  period. 

The  counties  of  Ashland,  Coshocton, 
Highland,  Huron,  Lorain,  Mahoning, 
Medina,  Miami,  Portage,  Seneca,  Summit, 
and  Warren,  shall,  severally,  be  entitled 
to  one  representative,  in  each  session ; and 
one  additional  representative  in  the  fifth 
session  of  the  decennial  period. 

The  counties  of  Ashtabula,  Brown,  But- 
ler, Clermont,  Fairfield,  Guernsey,  Jeffer- 
son, Knox,  Monroe,  Morgan,  Richland, 
Trumbull,  Tuscarawas,  and  Washington, 
shall,  severally  be  entitled  to  one  repre- 
sentative, in  each  session;  and  two  addi- 
tional representatives,  one  in  the  third, 
and  one  in  the  fourth  session  of  the  decen- 
nial period. 

The  counties  of  Belmont,  Columbiana, 
Ross  and  Wayne,  shall  .severally,  be  en- 
titled to  one  representative,  in  each  ses- 
sion ; and  three  additional  representatives, 
one  in  the  first,  one  in  the  second,  and  one 
in  the  third  session  of  the  decennial 
period. 

The  county  of  Muskingum  shall  be  en- 
titled to  two  representatives,  in  each  ses- 
sion; and  one  addtional  representative,  in 
the  fifth  session,  of  the  decennial  period. 

The  county  of  Cuyahoga  shall  be  en- 
titled to  two  representatives,  in  each  ses- 
sion; and  two  additional  representatives, 
one  in  the  third,  and  one  in  the  fourth  ses- 
sion of  the  decennial  period. 

The  county  of  Hamilton  shall  be  en- 


204 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


titled  to  seven  representatives,  in  each  ses- 
sion ; and  four  additional  representatives, 
one  in  the  first,  one  in  the  second,  one  in 
the  third,  and  one  in  the  fourth  session,  of 
the  decennial  period. 

The  following  counties,  until  they  shall 
have  acquired  a sufficient  population  to  en- 
title them  to  elect,  separately,  under  the 
fourth  section  of  the  eleventh  article,  shall 
form  districts  in  manner  following,  to- 
wit:  The  counties  of  Jackson  and  Vinton, 
one  district;  the  counties  of  Lucas  and 
Fulton,  one  district ; the  counties  of  Wyan- 
dot and  Hardin,  one  district ; the  counties 
of  Mercer  and  Van  Wert,  one  district;  the 
counties  of  Paulding,  Defiance,  and  Wil- 
liams, one  district ; the  counties  of  Putnam 
and  Henry,  one  district;  and  the  counties 
of  Wood  and  Ottawa,  one  district;  each 
of  which  districts  shall  be  entitled  to  one 
representative,  in  every  session  of  the  de- 
cennial period. 

Done  in  convention,  at  Cincinnati,  the 
tenth  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-one,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States,  the  seventy-fifth. 

WILLIAM  MEDILL,  President. 
Attest:  Wm.  H.  Gill,  Secretary. 

S.  J.  Andrews, 

Edward  Archbold, 

William  Barbee, 

Joseph  Barnett, 

David  Barnet, 

Wm.  S.  Bates, 

A.  I.  Bennett, 

John  H.  Blair, 

Jacob  Blickensderfer, 

Van  Brown, 

A.  G.  Brown, 

R.  D.  Cahill, 

F.  Case, 

L.  Case, 

David  Chambers, 

John  Chany, 

H.  D.  Clark, 

George  Collins, 

Friend  Cook, 


Otway  Curry, 

G.  Volney  Dorsey, 
Thos.  W.  Ewart, 

John  Ewing, 

Joseph  M.  Farr, 

Elias  Florence, 

Robert  Forbes, 

H.  C.  Gray, 

H.  N.  Gillett, 

John  Graham, 

John  L.  Green, 

Jacob  J.  Greene, 
Henry  H.  Gregg, 

V/.  S.  Groesbeck, 

C.  S.  Hamilton, 

D.  D.  T.  Hard, 

A.  Harlan, 

William  Hawkins, 
James  P.  Henderson, 
Peter  Hitchcock, 

G.  W.  Holmes, 

Geo.  B.  Holt, 

John  J.  Hootman, 

V.  B.  Plorton, 

Samuel  Humphreville, 
John  E.  Hunt, 

B.  B.  Hunter, 

Reuben  Hitchcock, 
John  Johnson, 

J.  Dan  Jones, 

James  B.  King, 

S.  J.  Kirkwood, 

Thos.  J.  Larsh, 
William  Lawrence, 
John  Larwill, 

Robert  Leech, 

D.  P.  Leadbetter, 

John  Lidey, 

James  Loudon, 

J.  McCormick, 

H.  S.  Manon, 

Samson  Mason, 
Matthew  H.  Mitchell, 
Isaiah  Morris, 

Charles  McCloud, 
Simeon  Nash, 

S.  F.  Norris, 

Chas.  J.  Orton, 

W.  S.  C.  Otis, 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  OHIO 


205 


Thomas  Patterson, 

Danl.  Peck, 

Jacob  Perkins, 

Sami.  Quigley, 

R.  P.  Ranney, 

Chas.  Reemelin, 

Adam  N.  Riddle, 

Edward  C.  Roll, 

Wm.  Sawyer, 

Sabirt  Scott, 

John  Sellers, 

John  A.  Smith, 

George  J.  Smith, 

B.  P.  Smith, 

Henry  Stanbery, 

B.  Stanton, 

Albert  V.  Stebbins, 

E.  T.  Stickney, 

Richd.  Stillwell, 

Harman  Stidger, 

James  Struble, 

J.  R.  Swan, 

L.  Swift, 

James  W.  Taylor, 

Norton  S.  Townshend, 

Hugh  Thompson, 

Joseph  Thompson, 

Joseph  Vance, 

Elijah  Vance, 

Wm.  M.  Warren, 

Thomas  A.  Way, 

J.  Milton  Williams, 

Elzey  Wilson, 

Jas.  T.  Worthington, 

E.  B.  Woodbury, 

Schedule  to  Constitutional  Amendments 
Submitted  on  September  3,  1912 
(Sec.  20.)  The  several  amendments 
passed  and  submitted  by  this  convention 
when  adopted  at  the  election  shall  take 
effect  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1913, 
except  as  otherwise  specifically  provided 
by  the  schedule  attached  to  any  of  said 
amendments.  All  laws  then  in  force,  not 
inconsistent  therewith  shall  continue  in 
force  until  amended  or  repealed ; provided 
that  all  cases  pending  in  the  courts  on  the 
first  day  of  January,  1913,  shall  be  heard 
and  tried  in  the  same  manner  and  by  the 


same  procedure  as  is  now  authorized  by 
law.  Any  provision  of  the  amendments 
passed  and  submitted  by  this  convention 
and  adopted  by  the  electors,  inconsistent 
with,  or  in  conflict  with,  any  provision  of 
the  present  constitution,  shall  be  held  to 
prevail.  (Adopted  September  3,  1912.) 

(Sec.  21.)  The  several  proposals  duly 
passed  by  this  convention  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  electors  as  separate  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution  at  a special  elec- 
tion to  be  held  on  the  third  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1912.  The  several  amendments 
shall  be  designated  on  the  ballot  by  their 
proper  article  and  section  numbers  and 
also  by  their  approved  descriptive  titles 
and  shall  be  printed  on  said  ballot  and 
consequently  numbered  in  the  manner  and 
form  hereinafter  set  forth.  The  adoption 
of  any  amendment  by  its  title  shall  have 
the  effect  of  adopting  the  amendment  in 
full  as  finally  passed  by  the  convention. 
Said  special  election  shall  be  held  pursu- 
ant to  all  provisions  of  law  applicable 
thereto  including  special  registration. 
Ballots  shall  be  marked  in  accordance 
with  instructions  printed  thereon.  Chal- 
lengers and  witnesses  shall  be  admitted 
to  all  polling  places  under  such  regulations 
as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  secretary  of 
state.  Within  ten  days  after  said  election 
the  boards  of  deputy  state  supervisors  of 
elections  of  the  several  counties  shall  for- 
ward by  mail  in  duplicate  sealed  certified 
abstracts  of  the  votes  cast  on  the  several 
amendments,  one  to  the  secretary  of  state 
and  one  to  the  auditor  of  state  at  Colum- 
bus. Within  five  days  thereafter  such 
abstracts  shall  be  opened  and  canvassed  by 
the  secretary  of  state  and  auditor  of  state 
in  the  presence  of  the  governor  who  shall 
forthwith,  by  proclamation,  declare  the 
results  of  said  election.  Each  amendment 
on  which  the  number  of  affirmative  votes 
shall  exceed  the  number  of  negative  votes 
shall  become  part  of  the  constitution. 

HERBERT  S.  BIGELOW, 

President. 

C.  B.  Galbreath,  Secretary. 

Columbus,  Ohio,  June  1,  1912, 


206 


David  F.  Anderson, 
Ernst  I.  Antrim, 

John  L.  Baum, 

Robert  A.  Beatty, 

A.  Beyer, 

Stanley  E.  Bowdle, 
Wesley  B.  Brattain, 

H.  M.  Brown, 

Walter  F.  Brown, 

M.  A.  Brown, 

William  W.  Campbell, 
John  R.  Cassidy, 

M.  T.  Cody, 

Bernard  Y.  Collett, 
Geo.  H.  Colton, 

Henry  L.  Cordes, 
Henry  M.  Crites, 
Robert  Crosser, 

David  Cunningham, 
William  C.  David, 

Joe  DeFrees, 

A.  V.  Donahey, 
Edward  W.  Doty, 
Charles  O.  Dunlap, 
Alexander  Dunn, 
Dennis  Dwyer, 

Henry  E.  Eby, 

J.  Milton  Earnhart, 
Henry  W.  Elson, 

John  D.  Fackler, 

W.  W.  Farnsworth, 
Thomas  S.  Farrell, 

S.  D.  Fess, 

Thos.  G.  FitzSimons, 
James  M.  Fluke, 
Henry  C.  Fox, 

Aaron  Hahn, 

Wm.  P.  Halenkamp, 
James  W.  Halfhill, 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


James  W.  Harbarger, 
Wm.  S.  Harris, 

Geo.  W.  Harris, 

Otto  M.  Harter, 

Isaac  Harter, 

Robert  Henderson, 
John  C.  Hoffman, 
Charles  D.  Holtz, 
Samuel  A.  Hoskins, 
Frank  G.  Hursh, 
Edward  W.  Johnson, 
Solomon  Johnson, 
Humphrey  Jones, 

J.  W.  Kehoe, 

Henry  C.  Keller, 
Frank  H.  Kerr, 

Wm.  B.  Kilpatrick, 

E.  B.  King, 

G.  W.  Knight, 

John  F.  Kramer, 
Lawrence  P.  Kunkle, 
Frank  P.  Lambert, 

E.  L.  Lampson, 

Fred  G.  Leete, 

Daniel  E.  Leslie, 
Robert  B.  Longstreth, 
Chris  Ludey, 

Fletcher  D.  Malin, 
Frank  M.  Marriott, 
Allen  M.  Marshall, 

N.  E.  Matthews, 
Roscoe  J.  Mauck, 

R.  G.  McClelland, 

Geo.  W.  Miller, 

Frank  P.  Miller, 

Wm.  Miller, 

Illion  E.  Moore, 

Caleb  H.  Norris, 
David  J.  Nye, 


J.  A.  Okey, 

W.  E.  Partington, 
Hiram  D.  Peck, 
Edward  A.  Peters, 
David  Pierce, 

Geo.  W.  Pettit, 

T.  D.  Price, 

A.  Ross  Read, 

Horace  G.  Redington, 
Jno.  H.  Riley, 

Wm.  M.  Rockel, 

John  Roehm, 

John  C.  Rorick, 

Stanley  Shaffer, 

Eli  D.  Shaw, 

H.  K.  Smith, 

Starbuck  Smith, 

J.  C.  Solether, 
Franklin  J.  Stalter, 

M.  Stamm, 

W.  B.  Stevens, 

0.  H.  Stewart, 

Stephen  S.  Stillwell, 
William  Worth  Stokes, 
Frank  Taggart, 

James  C.  Tallman, 

J.  W.  Tannehill, 

Percy  Tetlow, 

Harry  D.  Thomas, 

John  Ulmer, 

Edwin  T.  Wagner, 
Wilmer  R.  Walker, 
Harvey  Watson, 

Benj.  F.  Weybrecht, 
John  W.  Winn, 

Frank  C.  Wise, 

F.  W.  Woods, 

Wm.  Worthington. 


CHAPTER  XII 


THE  CANALS  OF  OHIO 


Her  Greatest  Single  Asset.  Her  Most  Important  Factor  In  Future  Development 


The  work  on  Ohio  canals  was  com- 
menced in  1825  and  completed  in  1847. 
There  were  1813  miles  in  all,  the  greatest 
of  any  state,  New  York  being  second.  The 
whole  cost  was  $15,967,652.  The  national 
government  gave  1,230,512  acres  of  land 
to  the  enterprise  and  this  land  was  sold  for 
$2,257,487.  The  canals  of  Ohio  were  leased 
to  a private  corporation  from  1861  to 
1878.  They  were  leased  for  ten  years  at 
an  annual  rental  of  but  $20,075  and  this 
lease  was  renewed  for  an  additional  ten 
years,  but  the  company  defaulted  on  their 
rent  in  1877  and  abandoned  the  canals, 
leaving  them  in  a very  dilapidated  condi- 
tion. From  1863  to  1896,  various  General 
Assemblies  disposed  of  canal  lands  worth 
several  millions  of  dollars  for  less  than 
$200,000.  We  still  have  603  miles  of  used 
and  abandoned  canals  owned  by  the  State. 
The  following  headlines  in  a county  paper 
in  1912  announced  my  position  on  the 
canal  situation: 

ARRAY  OF  FACTS  AND  FIGURES 
on  the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal  Question 

Presented  by  Colonel  F.  M.  Sterrett  of 
Troy,  at  the  “Round  Up”  Farmers’ 
Institute 

Favors  Barge  Canal 

Without  time  to  make  an  extensive  argu- 
ment in  favor  of  converting  the  Miami  and 
Erie  Canal  into  a barge  canal,  at  least  100 
feet  wide  and  ten  feet  deep,  I desire  to 
[207] 


submit  the  following  statement  of  facts 
for  the  present  as  a basis  for  the  impor- 
tance of  such  action. 

~ 1.  The  waterways  systems  of  France, 
Germany,  Great  Britain  and  China  have 
increased  in  length  more  than  500  per  cent 
in  the  last  thirty  years. 

2.  The  report  of  the  National  Conserva- 
tion Commission  of  1909  recommended  a 
bond  issue  of  $500,000,000  for  the  im- 
provement of  internal  waterways  and  the 
message  of  President  Roosevelt  to  Con- 
gress on  January  1,  1909,  endorsed  that 
recommendation. 

3.  The  railroads  of  the  country  are  no 
longer  physically  able  to  carry  the  traffic 
of  America  and  the  one  avenue  open  to 
such  traffic  is  faster  transportation.  We 
must  move  forward  or  we  will  go  back- 
ward. 

4.  The  government  engineers  say  in 
their  report  of  January  20,  1896  that  a 
barge  canal  100  feet  wide  and  ten  feet 
deep  between  Toledo  and  Cincinnati  is  en- 
tirely practical. 

5.  It  is  well  known  that  an  appropria- 
tion has  already  been  made  to  canalize  the 
Ohio  river  to  a depth  of  9 feet.  A Miami 
and  Erie  barge  canal  would  land  Pennsyl- 
vania, Ohio,  and  Kentucky  coal  from 
Toledo  to  Cincinnati  at  one-third  of  the 
present  transportation  charges. 

6.  It  would  land  iron  and  lumber  along 
its  course  at  one-third  the  present  trans- 
portation charges. 

7.  It  would  save  two-thirds  of  the  trans- 


208 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


portation  charges  on  all  the  cereals  along 
its  course,  shipped  to  outside  markets, 
which  saving  of  itself  would  in  a few  years 
pay  for  the  improvement  of  the  canal,  in- 
cluding all  new  bridges. 

8.  It  would  create,  along  its  course,  the 
greatest  manufacturing  district  in  the 
world,  because  the  raw  material  could  be 
landed  at  a minimum  price  and  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  soil;  all  that  is  necessary  to 
sustain  life — the  two  prerequisites  for  a 
great  manufacturing  center.  With  5,000,- 
000  of  people  in  the  seventeen  counties  of 
western  Ohio,  our  market  would  be 
equally  as  good  as  those  of  the  sea  coast. 

9.  The  general  government  is  committed 
to  internal  waterway  improvement  on  a 
scale  commensurate  with  the  demands  of 
commerce. 

10.  The  state  of  New  York,  in  1903,  by 
an  overwhelming  majority,  voted  an  ap- 
propriation to  enlarge  the  Erie  Canal  from 
a depth  of  seven  feet  to  a depth  of  12  feet, 
and  this  work  of  enlargement  is  now  rap- 
idly progressing.  It  is  387  miles  long  and 
has  72  locks.  It  passes  through  the  cities 
of  Rochester,  Syracuse  and  a long  list  of 
populous  county  seats,  such  as  Rome,  Her- 
kimer and  Schenectady,  along  the  Mohawk 
Valley,  which  largely  outnumber  in  popu- 
lation the  cities  along  the  Miami  and  Erie 
Canal  and  where  the  cost  of  widening  and 
deepening  and  bridging  would  be  far  in 
excess  of  the  same  on  the  Miami  and  Erie 
Canal. 

11.  President  Taft,  on  October  21,  1908, 
in  an  address  to  The  Lakes  to  the  Gulf 
Convention,  committed  himself  to  a bond 
issue  for  a deep  waterway  system. 

12.  The  government  engineers,  under 
act  of  Congress,  August  17,  1894,  made  a 
report  on  February  12,  1896,  estimating 
that  the  work  of  enlarging  the  Miami  and 
Erie  Canal  could  be  done  for  $27,000,000 
or  about  one-fourth  the  amount  appro- 
priated by  New  York  for  the  improvement 
of  the  Erie  Canal  (now,  in  1917,  nearly 
completed  at  a cost  of  $150,000,000). 

13.  Governor  Harmon  in  a recent  mes- 
sage characterized  the  canals  as  the  most 


valuable  asset  of  the  State.  In  a general 
way  $25,000,000  is  placed  as  the  value  of 
the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal. 

14.  Contrary  to  general  belief  and 
statement,  the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal  has 
to  its  credit  from  1827  to  1907,  a net  profit 
of  $1,164,692.84.  What  could  we  expect 
from  a barge  canal  divorced  from  politics? 

15.  The  power  produced  at  the  lakes 
would  be  sufficient  to  propel  all  boats  that 
could  be  used  and  probably  to  irrigate 
much  of  the  land  along  the  valley  during 
our  frequent  dry  Julys  and  Augusts.  It 
could  also  be  used  as  it  now  is  for  manu- 
facturing industries. 

16.  It  is  estimated  that  waterways  and 
reservoirs  have  a fish  value  of  $15,000  per 
acre. 

17.  The  Ohio  Boat  Company  is  now  run- 
ning regular  trips  between  Loveland  and 
Middletown  and  delivering  their  freight 
more  quickly  at  one-third  the  price  of  rail- 
roads. These  steel  hull  boats  are  propelled 
by  gasoline  engines  of  fifteen  horse-power, 
operating  a propellor  in  a chamber  in  such 
fashion  as  to  absolutely  prevent  the  wash 
of  the  banks.  They  run  from  six  to  eight 
miles  per  hour. 

18.  Lyman  E.  Cooley,  of  Chicago,  one 
of  the  greatest,  if  not  the  greatest,  in  the 
country,  upon  such  subjects,  and  the  mas- 
ter spirit  in  the  construction  of  the  ship 
canal  between  Lake  Michigan  and  the 
Mississippi  river,  has  given  his  opinion 
that  the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal  can  be  en- 
larged to  a depth  of  sixteen  feet.  After 
this,  why  listen  to  pessimism  about  the 
want  of  water  for  a barge  canal? 

19.  The  government  engineers  reported 
in  favor  of  a canal,  having  a trunk  of  85 
feet  at  the  top  water  line  and  60  feet  in 
width  at  the  bottom,  and  10  feet  in  depth, 
with  locks  20x200  feet,  having  12-foot 
lifts,  which  they  say  in  their  report  (they 
have  really  made  their  reports  at  different 
times,  all  favorable),  would  carry  vessels 
large  enough  to  be  seaworthy  on  the  lakes 
and  as  large  as  can  probably  ever  be  car- 
ried on  the  river. 

20.  The  amount  saved  in  transportation 


THE  DEVELOPMENT  OP  OHIO 


309 


of  grain  alone  to  the  state  of  New  York  by 
the  Erie  Canal  during  the  last  thirty  years 
is  at  least  $200,000,000. 

21.  According  to  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission  for  the  fiscal  year  end- 
ing June  30,  1909,  the  railroads,  the  rail- 
road rates  of  the  country  were  nine  and 
one-half  times  as  much  as  the  rate  by 
water.  Bear  in  mind  these  are  official 
figures. 

23.  The  classes  of  freight  that  can  be 
carried  most  economically  by  water,  are 
those  that  are  carried  with  least  profit  by 
the  railroads. 

24.  The  modern  canal  of  10  feet  in  depth 
is  stated  by  experts  to  have  a carrying 
capacity  equal  to  that  of  ten  double  track 
railroads. 

25.  We  have  $25,000,000  of  property  in 
the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal  that  foreign 
nations  and  states  of  the  Union,  are  mak- 
ing a profit  from.  Is  it  wise  for  us  to  sac- 
rifice this  property  in  the  face  of  the 
facts  ? 

Since  the  above  paper  was  read  to  the 
farmers’  institute  in  1912,  there  have  been 
several  congestions  of  freight  in  Toledo 
and  Cincinnati  that  detained  shipments  at 
these  points  for  a period  of  three  months, 
a longer  successive  period  than  the  canal 
has  ever  been  frozen  over.  The  price  on 
coal  for  the  winter  supply  of  1916-17  has 
been  from  $2  to  $2.50  per  ton  more  than 
ever  before  paid  in  Miami  County  and  the 
canal  has  been  open,  free  from  ice,  up  to 
December  1,  1916,  and  all  on  account  of 
the  want  of  freight  cars,  proof  of  our 
position  (No.  3).  That  this  condition  will 
become  more  serious  as  time  goes  and  a 
greater  population  and  more  factories 
must  be  supplied  would  seem  as  certain  as 
any  other  fixed  economic  fact. 

There  is  coal  in  sight  now,  only  enough 
to  last  for  150  years  to  come.  The  supply 
of  oil  can  be  almost  mathematically  calcu- 
lated. We  will  have  water  as  long  as  the 
earth  exists.  Evaporation  and  precipita- 
tion will  give  us  rainfall  and  rainfall  will 
give  us  water  power  as  long  as  the  sun 


holds  out  to  burn.  Water  power  is,  therefore 
the  one  inexhaustible  natural  resource  up- 
on which  we  can  depend  for  heat7~light 
and  industrial  energy.  I am  of  the  opinion 
that  every  ravine  in  this  country  should 
be  cemented  at  its  mouth  and  all  water 
held  back,  as  it  formerly  was,  before  de- 
forestation took  place.  It  would  not  only 
conserve  the  water  for  farm  power,  or  ir- 
rigation purposes,  but  would  largely  pre- 
vent inundation  of  the  lowlands.  Men 
and  women  of  Miami  County,  this  is  the 
20th  century.  The  resistless  tide  of  mighty 
events  are  marching  on.  The  next  one 
hundred  years  will  probably  be  as  prolific 
in  great  accomplishments  as  the  last  cen- 
tury has  been.  The  revolution  in  harvest- 
ing our  crops,  our  mode  of  travel,  living 
and  communication  during  the  past  one 
hundred  years,  gives  prophecy  of  the 
future. 

There  are  many  sincere  opponents  to 
the  improvement  of  the  Miami  and  Erie 
Canal.  Let  us  classify  them:  (1)  Every 

man  who  has  served  as  County  Commis- 
sioner for  many  years  is  a natural  enemy 
and  has  made  it  a business  to  create 
enemies  for  the  improvement,  because  of 
the  large  expenditures  for  bridges  each 
year  and  this  is  reasonable  from  that 
standpoint.  (2)  A considerable  per  cent 
of  our  people  have  heard  it  called  the  frog 
pond,  the  old  dirty  ditch,  and  like  ugly 
names  for  so  many  years  that  the  mention 
of  it  carries  opprobrium  with  it,  but  this 
is  not  born  of  thought  or  of  large  vision, 
any  more  than  the  old  time  opposition  to  a 
musical  instrument  in  church  service, 
among  us  a hundred  years  ago.  No  intelli- 
gent mind  of  breadth  is  likely  to  doubt  the 
statements  of  three  different  boards  of  en- 
gineers appointed  and  paid  by  the  general 
government  to  report  on  this  subject.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  their  last  re- 
port, made  on  February  12,  1896 : 

“The  project  is  one  of  undoubted  practi- 
cability at  a cost  not  prohibitory,  and  if 
carried  out  a canal  so  built  will  form  an 
important  part  of  an  inland  system  of 


210 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


navigation,  which,  with  Lake  Erie  as  a 
commercial  basis  of  operation,  will  em- 
brace the  Great  Lakes  and  the  St.  Law- 
rence, Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  and  the 
Atlantic  seaboard.” 


If  I have,  by  the  above  thoughts,  been 
able  to  arrest  unreasonable  defamation 
and  changed  it,  at  least,  to  serious  con- 
sideration of  the  subject,  this  book  will  not 
have  been  written  in  vain. 


FURTHER  DEVELOPMENT 


In  the  early  days  of  Ohio,  before  the 
date  of  free  schools,  the  general  method  of 
teaching  was  what  was  called  “The  Lan- 
caster School  System.”  Under  this  system 
it  was  possible  for  one  man  to  be  the  only 
paid  instructor  for  a thousand  pupils,  em- 
ploying the  older  pupils  as  monitors.  In 
this  manner  the  cost  of  each  pupil  for  one 
year  was  five  shillings.  This  system  pre- 
vailed in  Cincinnati,  Marietta,  Hillsboro, 
and  other  early  Ohio  towns.  It  was  so 
inexpensive  that  it  delayed  the  establish- 
ment of  a system  of  paid  instructors  for  all 
public  school  pupils. 

In  1821,  a law  was  passed  which  author- 
ized a school  tax  to  be  levied,  but  it  was 
not  made  mandatory.  Only  indigent  chil- 
dren, not  able  to  pay,  became  beneficiaries 
of  the  funds  raised  under  this  law. 

In  1825  the  General  Assembly  passed  a 
mandatory  law  requiring  the  County  Com- 
missioners, beginning  July,  1826,  to  levy 
five-tenths  of  a mill  for  school  purposes. 
There  was  no  provisions  made  by  some  of 
the  Counties  for  the  collection  of  this  tax. 
Then  and  for  years  afterward,  there  was 
a per  cent  of  the  taxpayers  in  the  State, 
who,  having  no  children,  objected  to  being 
taxed  for  the  education  of  other  peoples’ 
children.  The  growth  of  sentiment  in 
favor  of  free  schools  in  Ohio  was  as  slow 
as  the  growth  of  sentiment  in  favor  of 
organs  and  fiddles  in  churches.  Many  of 
the  older  citizens  of  Miami  County  today 
recollect  when  such  music  in  churches 
would  have  outraged  the  congregations  to 
rebellion  and  withdrawal. 

The  two  issues  of  canal  bonds  and  man- 
datory taxation  to  support  public  schools 
were  combined  in  the  compaign  of  1824 


and  a majority  thus  gained  in  the  General 
Assembly  for  both  projects,  but  it  was  the 
popularity  of  the  canals  and  not  a general 
thirst  for  education  that  won  at  the  Octo- 
ber election.  This  was  shown  by  the  fact 
that  the  Canal  Bill  was  passed  on  February 
4,  1825,  and  the  school  tax  law  was  passed 
the  next  day,  and  the  majority  for  canals 
was  over  double  the  majority  for  schools. 

Cincinnati  had  free  schools  before  1838 
when  all  schools  of  Ohio  were  made  free. 
In  1877  a law  was  passed  which  compelled 
all  persons  of  school  age  to  attend  school 
for  at  least  three  months  in  each  year.  The 
Akron  law  of  1847  gave  that  city  the  first 
modern  graded  school  in  the  State.  It 
provided  for  six  primary  and  one  grammar 
school  with  examinations  for  promotion. 
It  also  provided  for  a board  of  education 
of  six  members  and  a separate  board  of 
examiners  for  city  teachers.  The  plan  was 
extended  to  other  towns  in  1849  and  to 
townships  in  1850. 

A State  superintendent  of  schools  was 
provided  for  by  the  law  of  1837  and  abol- 
ished in  1840  and  re-established  in  1853 
under  the  title  of  State  Commissioner  of 
Common  Schools.  The  Secretary  of  State 
had  performed  the  duties  of  Common 
School  Superintendent  and  the  County 
Auditor  as  County  Superintendent  and 
township  clerks  as  township  superintend- 
ents before  the  provision  of  1853  for  the 
State  Commissioner. 

The  Constitution  of  1872,  changed  the 
name  to  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion and  made  the  office  an  appointive  one 
from  the  Governor  and  the  term  for  four 
years. 

The  office  of  County  Superintendent  was 


THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  OHIO 


211 


created  in  1914.  He  is  chosen  by  the 
County  Board  of  Education,  which  consists 
of  five  members  selected  by  the  president 
of  the  boards  of  education  of  the  village 
and  rural  school  districts  of  the  County. 

“General  James  A.  Garfield,  afterward 
president,  while  a member  of  Congress,  on 
June  6,  1866,  on  speaking  on  his  bill  to 
establish  a department  of  education,  said 
that  during  the  Civil  War,  52  per  cent  of 
all  Ohio  taxation  (excepting  levies  for  war 
expenses  and  payments  on  the  debt)  was 
used  for  common  schools.,  At  that  time 
over  50  per  cent  of  all  State  receipts,  ex- 
cept for  extraordinary  expenses,  caused  by 
the  war  were  disbursed  for  schools.  Today 
only  15  per  cent  of  such  State  receipts 
are  so  used.  The  common  schools  of  Ohio 
now  receive  thirty-two  million  dollars  each 
year  or  only  about  30  per  cent  of  all  the 
State  and  local  taxes. 

The  University  of  Athens  was  founded 
in  1804  and  opened  1809.  The  first  gradu- 


ating class  was  in  1815  and  consisted  of 
John  Hunter  and  Thomas  Ewing.  These 
were  the  first  academic  degrees  conferred 
in  the  states  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river. 
Ewing  became  one  of  the  greatest  lawyers 
and  statesmen  in  America. 

The  second  college  was  Miami  Univer- 
sity at  Oxford  which  was  founded  in  1809, 
and  opened  in  1816.  The  first  graduating 
class  was  in  1826.  Kenyon  College,  at 
Gambier,  was  founded  in  1825;  Franklin 
College  at  New  Athens,  and  Western  Re- 
serve University,  at  Cleveland,  were  both 
founded  in  1826;  Dennison  University,  at 
Granville,  in  1831 ; Oberlin  College  in  1833, 
and  Marietta  College  in  1835.  Oberlin 
was  the  first  co-educational  college  in  the 
world  and  the  first  in  the  United  States  to 
admit  negro  students.  Ohio  has  more  col- 
leges than  any  other  state  in  the  Union. 
Wilberforce,  the  leading  colored  university 
in  the  north,  was  founded  in  1856,  being 
the  first  in  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


OHIO  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812 


The  war  of  1812  can  be  called  a con- 
tinuation of  the  Revolution,  with  all  jus- 
tice. Although  rumors  had  reached  Ohio, 
that  active  preparations  were  being  made 
for  general  action,  no  official  tidings  had 
been  sent  to  Hull,  commander-in-chief  of 
the  western  forces. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  instead  of  send- 
ing a special  messenger  directly  to  Hull, 
communicated  with  the  post  adjacent,  de- 
pening  upon  a continuation  of  the  news 
from  that  point.  At  the  same  time,  ad- 
vices were  sent  the  British  post  at  Malden 
and  Detroit.  Hull  sent  out  a packet  with 
official  papers,  stores,  etc.,  the  day  previ- 
ous to  that  on  which  the  official  intelli- 
gence arrived  that  an  open  rupture  existed 
between  the  two  powers,  and  this  of  course 
captured. 

The  Western  forces  marched  to  Detroit 
and  crossed  over  to  Sandwich,  preparatory 
to  attacking  Malden,  a post  most  favorable 
for  the  transportation  of  stores,  troops, 
etc.,  which  was  therefore  considered  valu- 
able. 

Peter  Minard  first  gave  the  news  to  the 
settlers  of  the  Maumee.  He  had  heard 
from  a delaware  chief  who  assured  him 
that  a general  massacre  was  to  take  place 
in  the  valley.  Maj.  Spafford  paid  no  heed 
to  this  “idle  fear”  until  a few  days  there- 
after a messenger  came  to  his  quarters, 
reporting  a band  of  fifty  Pottawatomies  on 
the  march  to  join  the  hostile  tribes  near 
Malden.  They  had  plundered  and  burned 
[212] 


Bonclova,  and  had  nearly  reached  the 
rapids. 

The  major  with  his  family  and  settlers, 
immediately  launched  a barge  on  the  river 
and  were  able  to  reach  old  Fort  Miami 
just  as  the  savages  reached  Maumee  City. 
They  could  plainly  witness  the  flames  that 
devoured  their  old  homes.  They  kept  on 
their  way  in  their  miserable  craft,  until 
they  reached  Milan,  where  they  learned 
that  the  entire  country  was  in  danger. 

Although  the  Indians  were  defeated  in 
the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  in  the  fall  of 
1811,  they  plotted  vigorously  with  the 
English  for  the  invasion  of  Ohio. 

Gen.  William  Hull  marched  from  the 
south  western  part  of  the  State  directly 
north,  crossing  the  counties  of  Cham- 
paign, Logan,  Hardin,  Hancock  and  Wood, 
establishing  military  posts  along  the  route 
and  cutting  a way  through  the  wilderness 
of  the  unsettled  portions.  He  crossed  the 
Maumee  on  the  1st  of  July  and  marched 
to  Detroit. 

Hull  was  evidently  actuated  in  his  suc- 
ceeding disgraceful  failure  by  two  fears — 
lack  of  confidence  in  the  ability  of  his 
troops,  and  the  belief  that  they  might  de- 
sert him  in  action.  He  proclaimed  free- 
dom, and  a necessity  of  submitting  to  the 
- Canadians  under  existing  circumstances. 
He  held  out  inducements  to  the  British 
regulars  to  desert  their  cause,  and  essayed 
to  pacify  the  savages,  but  he  accomplished 
nothing  beyond  jeopardizing  the  Ameri- 


OHIO  IN  THE,  WAR  OF  1812 


213 


can  cause  and  disgracing  his  army.  His 
men  became  restless.  Col.  Miller  and  Col. 
Cass  were  delighted  when  detailed  on 
scouting  expeditions,  and  did  not  hesitate 
to  attack  advancing  squads  of  the  enemy. 
At  last,  an  attack  was  made  on  the  Niag- 
ara frontier,  and  Hull  speedily  abandoned 
his  project  and  collected  his  forces  at  De- 
troit. 

Meantime,  Col.  Proctor  had  reached 
Malden,  and  quickly  perceiving  the  advan- 
tage of  a post  at  that  point,  whereby  he 
could  cut  off  supplies  and  starve  Hull  into 
subjection,  he  massed  his  forces  about 
this  section,  captured  Van  Horn  and  his 
two  hundred  men,  and  withstood  the  at- 
tack of  Miller,  although  he  gained  nothing 
by  so  doing.  Again  Hull  displayed  his 
weakness  by  recalling  his  forces  from  fur- 
ther molestations. 

Gen.  Brock,  however,  reached  Malden 
on  the  13th  of  August,  1812,  and  began 
war  preparations. 

Gen.  Dearborn  placed  a force  on  the  Ni- 
agar  frontier,  but  an  armistice  was  made 
with  the  British.  Hull  dispatched  a third 
party  under  McArthur  to  open  communi- 
cations to  the  Raisin  River. 

Gen.  Brock  appeared  at  Sandwich  and 
began  to  erect  batteries,  which  Hull  would 
not  allow  to  be  molested.  The  result  was, 
that  on  the  26th  of  August  Detroit  was 
surrendered  to  the  enemy,  and  not  a blow 
had  been  struck  in  its  defense. 

By  this  dastardly  act,  1,400  brave  men 
who  had  not  been  permitted  to  make  a 
single  effort  to  sustain  the  American 
cause,  were  surrendered  to  300  English 
regulars,  400  Canadians  and  their  Indian 
allies.  Gen.  Hull  was,  in  consequence  of 
this  series  of  “mistakes”  accused  of  trea- 
son and  cowardice,  and  convicted  of  the 
latter.  By  the  middle  of  August,  the  Brit- 
ish had  gained  control  over  most  of  the 
Northwestern  Territory. 

The  appointment  of  William  Henry 
Harrison  to  the  position  of  Commander  in 
chief  of  the  western  forces  was  most  op- 
portune. He  speedily  raised  a vigorous 


army,  and  advanced  by  three  routes  to  the 
foot  of  the  rapids. 

Gen.  Harrison  commanded  the  right 
wing  and  marched  by  the  way  of  Upper 
Sandusky,  where  he  located  his  depot  of 
supplies.  Gen.  Tupper  commanded  the 
center,  Fort  McArthur,  in  Hardin  County, 
being  his  base,  while  Gen.  Winchester 
marched  from  Fort  Defiance  down  the 
Maumee  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids. 

A large  force  of  British  and  Indians 
moved  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Maumee  to- 
ward Fort  Wayne,  and  Gen.  Harrison,  to 
intercept  them,  marched  to  the  confluence 
of  the  Auglaize  with  the  Maumee. 

Harrison  was  aware  that  the  enemy 
would  be  also  hemmed  in  by  Winchester. 
The  weather  was  rainy,  and  the  prospects 
were  that  a most  unfortunate  season  was 
to  follow  the  expected  engagements.  Har- 
rison heard  that  Winchester  had  reached 
Fort  Defiance,  and  that  the  Indians  and 
British  were  retreating  down  the  Mau- 
mee. He  followed  and  marched  to  Win- 
' Chester’s  camp  where  he  arrived  in  season 
to  quell  a mutiny  under  command  of  Col. 
Allen  of  the  Kentucky  troops. 

In  January,  1813,  Winchester  had 
reached  the  rapids,  where  he  received  tid- 
ings that  Frenchtown  was  menaced  and 
exposed.  Without  orders,  he  sent  a party 
to  the  rescue  which  defeated  the  enemy. 
The  weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  the 
company  lay  v/ithin  eighteen  miles  of 
Malden,  where  the  enemy  was  collected  in 
full  force,  consequently,  re-inforcements 
must  be  dispatched  immediately  or  the 
town  again  left  to  its  fate. 

Winchester  then  marched  with  a force 
of  259  men,  and  upon  arriving  at  nightfall, 
insisted  upon  remaining  on  open  ground, 
although  warned  repeatedly  that  this 
would  be  a most  dangerous  experiment. 

In  the  morning,  he  was  surprised  by  the 
enemy,  massed  directly  before  him,  with 
a battery  within  three  hundred  yards  of 
his  camp,  and  a shower  of  bombs,  balls 
and  grape-shot  falling  among  his  exposed 
troops  and  the  yells  of  the  Indians  remind- 


214 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


ing  him  of  his  fatal  error.  Lewis,  who  led 
the  party  out  in  the  beginning  and  had  ap- 
prehended the  danger,  bravely  defended 
himself  behind  garden  pickets.  Winches- 
ter was  defeated  on  the  22nd  of  January, 
1813,  and  the  Indians  were  permitted  to 
to  massacre  the  prisoners  and  the  settlers. 

Harrison  fell  back  to  the  foot  of  the 
rapids.  On  the  1st  of  February  he  began 
the  construction  of  Fort  Meigs.  On  the 
27th  of  April,  Proctor  and  Tecumseh  at- 
tacked this  fort  and  laid  seige  with  the 
full  expectation  of  success.  The  stipula- 
tion was  that  Gen.  Harrison  was  to  be 
delivered  to  Tecumseh.  While  the  balls 
and  bombs  were  making  havoc  with  the 
fort,  the  Indians  were  climbing  trees  and 
pouring  a galling  fire  down  upon  the 
troops.  Gen.  Proctor  invited  Harrison  to 
surrender,  which  was  politely  declined, 
with  the  asurance  that  the  British  General 
would  have  the  opportunity  to  distinguish 
himself  as  a soldier  before  such  a proceed- 
ing was  enacted. 

Gen.  Clay  was  descending  the  Maumee 
with  1,200  Kentuckians  in  flat  boats.  Or- 
ders went  from  Harrison  that  800  men 
should  land  on  the  left  bank,  take  and 
spike  the  British  cannon,  and  then  enter 
the  fort,  from  which  soldiers  were  to  issue 
to  assist  the  re-inforcements. 

Capt.  Hamilton  was  to  pilot  Gen.  Clay 
to  the  fort,  cutting  their  way  through. 
All  succeeded,  Col.  Dudley  taking  the  bat- 
teries and  spiking  the  cannon.  But  his 
men,  too  much  elated  by  their  success, 
against  orders,  and  against  the  repeated 
expostulations  of  Col.  Dudley,  insisted  up- 
on pursuing  the  Indians.  Col.  Dudley 
would  not  desert  them.  This  act  proved 
their  ruin.  By  a decoy,  they  were  led  into 
a defile  which  proved  an  ambush  and  the 
men  found  themselves  surrounded  by  sav- 
ages, without  means  of  escape. 

A most  frightful  massacre  began,  and 
every  man  would  have  fallen  had  not  Te- 
cumseh sternly  forbidden  the  cowardly 
carnage.  One  of  the  principal  chiefs  ig- 
nored this  order,  and  the  next  instant  the 


great  warrior  buried  his  hatchet  in  his 
head.  The  brave  Col.  Dudley  was,  how- 
ever, tomahawked  and  scalped. 

There  were  no  immediate  signs  that  the 
fort  would  be  surrendered,  and  the  seige 
was  raised  on  the  9th  of  May.  It  was  re- 
newed on  the  20th  of  July,  and  abandoned 
a few  days  later.  The  enemy  decided  this 
stronghold  was  invulnerable. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  the  enemy  pro- 
ceeded to  Fort  Stevenson,  at  Lower  San- 
dusky, garrisoned  by  150  men  under  Maj. 
Croghan.  The  fort  had  the  use  of  but 
one  piece  of  cannon.  The  enemy  with  Te- 
cumseh’s  Indians  numbered  3,300  strong 
with  six  pieces  of  cannon. 

Gen.  Proctor  again  tendered  the  offer 
to  surrender,  adding  that  a refusal  would 
only  bring  about  a useless  resistance,  and  a 
massacre  by  the  Indians.  The  reply  was, 
that  before  the  fort  went  over  to  the  Brit- 
ish, not  an  American  would  be  left  to  be 
massacred,  as  they  should  hold  out  to  the 
last  man.  Proctor  opened  fire.  The  first 
movement  was  upon  the  northwest  angle 
of  the  fort,  as  if  to  make  a breach  and 
thus  carry  the  works.  The  commandant 
strengthened  that  point  by  bags  of  sand, 
and  during  the  night  stealthily  placing  his 
one  cannon  in  a concealed  position,  he 
filled  it  with  slugs. 

The  following  day,  the  fire  again  swept 
the  northwest  corner,  and,  evening  ap- 
proaching, a column  of  350  men  swept  up 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  walls.  They 
were  met  by  the  musketry,  which  had  little 
effect,  and  the  ditch  was  soon  filled  with 
men.  The  next  instant,  the  hidden  can- 
non, so  placed  as  to  sweep  the  ditch,  sud- 
denly began  action,  and  the  surprised  as- 
sailants quickly  recoiled  and  the  fort  was 
saved  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man. 

The  next  morning,  the  enemy  had  dis- 
appeared, evidently  in  haste,  as  guns, 
clothing  and  stores  were  left  behind.  They 
had  lost  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  by 
this  useless  attempt.  Croghan  had  pre- 
viously received  orders  to  evacuate  the 
fort  from  Gen.  Harrison,  and  his  deter- 


OHIO  IN  THE,  WAR  OF  1812 


215 


mination  to  hold  the  position  merited  Har- 
rison’s reprimand  and  remand  of  commis- 
sion. Such  was  the  severity  of  military 
law.  However,  the  rank  of  Colonel  was 
immediately  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
President,  for  his  gallantry.  The  ladies 
of  Chillicothe  presented  him  with  an  ele- 
gant testimonial  in  the  shape  of  a sword. 

It  was  decided  to  make  a naval  warfare 
effectual  in  the  recovery  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  and  accordingly  vessel- 
building began  under  Commodore  Perry’s 
supervision. 

The  British  looked  upon  this  proceeding 
with  decision,  fully  intending  to  use  these 
boats  for  their  own  purpose.  They  pub- 
licly proclaimed  their  intention. 

By  the  1st  of  August,  1813,  Commodore 
Perry  set  sail  a flotilla,  the  Lawrence  and 
Niagara  of  twenty  guns  each,  with  smaller 
vessels  following.  Some  difficuulty  was 
encountered  in  launching  the  larger  ves- 
sels, on  account  of  the  shallowness  of  the 
water. 

Perry’s  first  destination  was  Put-in- 
Bay,  thirty  miles  from  Malden,  where  the 
British  fleet  lay  under  the  guns  of  the 
fort.  On  the  10th  of  September  the  Brit- 
ish fleet — exceeding  the  American  by  ten 
guns — under  Commodore  Barclay,  ap- 
peared off  Put-in-Bay,  distant  about  ten 
miles.  Perry  immediately  set  sail.  The 
wind  shifting,  the  Americans  had  the  ad- 
vantage. 

Perry  hoisted  the  Union  Jack.  A gen- 
eral preparation  was  made  for  the  con- 
flict. An  ominius  silence  settled  over  all 
as  the  fleets  approached.  A bugle  sounded 
on  the  enemy’s  ship  Detroit,  and  a furious 
fire  was  opened  upon  the  Lawrence.  The 
frightful  and  desperate  battle  that  ensued 
is  so  familiar  that  it  is  not  necessary  for 
us  to  repeat  its  details.  It  forever  re- 
mains in  history  as  a prominent,  desper- 
ate struggle  that  turned  the  tide  most  de- 
cisively in  favor  of  the  Americans.  Hand 
to  hand,  for  three  hours,  this  furious 
struggle  surged,  resulting  in  a pronounced 
victory  for  the  Americans. 


Commodore  Perry  immediately  re- 
quested parole  for  his  severely  wounded 
antagonist,  Commodore  Barclay.  Capt. 
Elliott  was  at  this  engagement  highly 
commended  by  Perry  for  his  bravery. 

Gen.  Harrison  now  made  preparations  to 
follow  Proctor,  and  reached  Malden  on  the 
27th  of  September. 

Proctor  had  retreated  to  Sandwich,  and 
thence  Harrison  followed  him,  overtaking 
the  enemy  on  the  9th  of  October,  on  the 
bank  of  the  Thames.  An  engagement  en- 
sued which  was  not  particularly  marked 
in  its  events,  but  which  practically  termi- 
nated the  war  in  the  Northwest. 

Tecumseh  fell  during  this  battle,  and  his 
death  disheartened  the  savages  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  were  willing  to  make 
terms  of  peace.  Accordingly  a treaty  was 
concluded  on  the  22nd  day  of  July,  1814, 
with  the  Wyandots,  Delawares,  Shawnees, 
Senecas  and  Miamis,  the  tribes  engaged  in 
hostilities.” 

One  of  the  most  interesting  incidents 
of  my  life  is  connected  with  the  commem- 
oration of  Perry’s  victory.  The  story  in 
detail  will  be  mainly  interesting  to  all 
readers  of  history. 

In  1910,  General  J.  Warren  Kiefer,  then 
the  member  of  Congress  from  the  7th  Ohio 
district,  succeeding  in  having  passed  into 
a law,  an  appropriation  by  the  general 
government  of  the  sum  of  $250,000,  for 
the  purpose  of  erecting  a monument  in 
memory  of  the  Perry  victory  of  Lake  Erie. 
In  the  year  1911  the  Lake  States  had  sup- 
plemented this  sum  by  State  appropria- 
tions in  amount  ranging  from  $25,000  to 
$100,000.  Besides  the  Lake  States,  Ken- 
tucky and  Rhode  Island  had  appropriated 
the  sum  of  $25,000  each;  Kentucky  in 
memory  of  the  fact  that  her  sons  figured 
more  prominently  than  all  others  in  the 
military  operations  under  Gen.  Harrison 
who  commanded  in  the  West  and  whose 
victory  over  Proctor  in  the  battle  of  the 
Thames  closed  the  war.  The  entire  gov- 
ernment and  State  appropriations  reached 
$800,000. 


216 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


After  the  government  and  State  funds 
had  been  secured,  the  followinggovemment 
commissioners  were  appointed:  J.  Warren 
Keifer,  ex-speaker  of  Congress;  Nelson  A. 
Miles,  Lieutenant  General  of  the  United 
States  Army,  retired,  and  Rear  Admiral 
Clarke,  formerly  of  around  the  horn,  Ore- 
gon, retired.  Each  of  the  States  contrib- 
uting had  also  appointed  Commissioners 
and  the  first  meeting  of  the  full  joint  Na- 
tional and  State  bodies  was  held  in  Put-in- 
Bay  on  Sept.  10th,  1912,  to  perfect  plans. 

On  acount  of  the  fact  that  the  largest 
average  crowds  in  the  Nation  at  that  time 
gathered  at  the  National  Encampment  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  that 
I had  acted  as  Executive  Director  at  Sar- 
atoga Springs,  New  York,  in  1907,  Toledo, 
Ohio,  in  1908,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  in 
1909  and  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey  in 
1910,  Gen.  Kiefer  had  invited  me  to  ac- 
company him  for  the  purpose  of  furnish- 
ing advice  in  relation  to  the  program  for 
providing  entertainment  at  the  Centen- 
niel  to  be  held  one  year  from  that  date. 

I was  made  the  guest  of  Gen.  Kiefer, 
Miles  and  Admiral  Clarke  at  the  Middle 
Bass  House  on  Middle  Bass  Island  from 
which  place  we  were  transported  to  Put- 
in-Bay for  business  meetings  and  banquet 
in  a beautiful  yacht  owned  by  George  H. 
Worthington  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Lake  Erie  Yacht  Club,  as  well 
as  President-General  of  the  Perry  Monu- 
ment Commission.  On  the  night  of  the 
banquet,  commencing  at  8:30  p.  m.,  and 
ending  at  12 :30  a.  m.,  several  very  excel- 
lent speeches  were  made,  not  the  least  of 
which  came  from  that  eloquent  orator 
and  great  political  writer,  Henry  Water- 
son  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  The  following 
story,  related  by  Gen.  Kiefer,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  his  speech,  was  new  to  me.  Gen. 
Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  the  greatest  of  all 
Indians,  who  had  been  made  a brigadier 
general  in  the  British  army,  were  at  Mal- 
den, 30  miles  away  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  lake  and  could  clearly  hear  the  sound 
of  battle  and  see  the  cloud  of  smoke,  and 


when  the  absence  of  these  indicated  that 
the  battle  was  over,  Tecumseh,  turning  to 
Proctor,  said,  “Did  we  whip  'em?”  and 
Proctor  replied,  “Certainly,  we  did”  and 
then  it  was  that  Tecumseh  said,  “Well, 
why  don't  they  come  back?” 

It  was  after  midnight  when  the  Worth- 
ington boat  landed  us  at  Middle  Bass,  but 
north  of  the  regular  pier  a quarter  of  a 
mile,  on  account  of  low  water.  The  road 
was  alongside  the  lake  and  for  the  entire 
distance  the  right  of  the  road  was  covered 
with  vineyards.  After  making  a part  of 
the  distance,  I said,  “Gen.  Miles,  do  you 
like  Delaware  grapes?”  and  he  replied,  “It 
is  the  queen  of  all  grapes.”  I said,  “Here 
are  acres  of  them  the  finest  I have  ever 
seen,  and  I know  for  I was  here  this  morn- 
ing.” The  party  entered  the  vineyard  and 
gathered  as  many  as  they  could  carry 
about  their  persons  and  then  continued  the 
walk  along  the  lake  road,  spitting  out  on 
the  ground  the  skin  and  seed  of  the 
grapes.  Gen.  Miles  stopped  long  enough 
once  to  recite. 

“Women  love  revenge, 

Sailors  love  prize  money 
And  soldiers  love  pillage.” 

It  was  a beautiful  moonlight  night  and 
the  lightly  rippling  waters  of  the  lake 
seemed  a sheen  of  molten  gold.  I am  in- 
debted to  Gen.  Kiefer  for  the  following, 
relating  to  this — the  greatest  Doric  col- 
umn on  the  earth. 

Springfield,  Ohio,  April  21,  1917. 
Col.  F.  M.  Sterrett, 

Troy,  Ohio. 

My  dear  friend : 

In  reply  to  yours  of  the  17th  inst.,  I 
answer  that  the  Washington  Monument 
is  higher  than  the  Perry  Monument  but 
the  latter  exceeds  all  others  of  its  class. 
Col.  Henry  Watterson  has  seen  all  of  them 
in  this  line  and  pronounces  ours  the  great- 
est in  the  world.  Its  height  is  317  feet  and 
1 inch ; diameter  of  base  45  feet ; diameter 
of  neck  35  feet,  6 inches;  bacus  47  feet 


OHIO  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812 


217 


square;  thickness  of  walls  at  base,  9 feet, 
9 inches;  thickeness  of  walls  at  neck  4 
feet.  The  tripod  is  22  feet,  10  inches  in 
height  and  17  feet,  4 inches  in  diameter. 
It  is  of  statutory  bronze  in  wrought  and 
cast  sections.  The  glass  dome  is  an  un- 
broken surface  in  24  pieces  in  closed 
joints,  a form  of  construction  never  before 
attempted  in  glass.  The  weight  of  the 
tripod  is  approximately  ten  tons. 

The  names  of  the  American  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  Sep- 
tember 10th,  1813,  are  carved  in  the  wall 
panels  of  the  rotunda  of  the  column  and 
the  complete  roster  of  the  fleet  will  appear 
in  bronze  tablets  on  the  second  floor.  A 
passenger  elevator  runs  to  the  spectator’s 
gallery,  at  a height  of  317  feet.  It  car- 
ried 27,000  passengers  in  1916.  The  mem- 


orial reservation  of  fourteen  acres,  from 
the  center  of  which  the  column  rises,  com- 
prises the  narrowest  part  of  Put-in-Bay 
Island  toward  east  point,  overlooking  in 
either  direction  from  the  site  of  the  col- 
umn within  a distance  of  about  300  feet, 
the  waters  of  both  Lake  Erie  and  Put-in- 
Bay  harbor.  The  scene  most  appropri- 
ately includes  Gibralter  Island,  West  Sis- 
ter Island  off  whose  shores  Commodore 
Perry  dispatched  his  famous  message, 
“We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they  are 
ours.”  The  Canadian  shore,  the  expanse 
of  waters  and  the  international  boundary 
line  for  one  hundred  years  have  borne  si- 
lent but  convincing  testimony  to  the  effi- 
ciency of  international  peace  by  disarma- 
ment. Very  truly, 

J.  WARREN  KIEFER. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


Among  the  many  able  and  ordinary  op- 
ponents of  the  institution  of  slavery  that 
were  prominent  in  the  country’s  affairs 
between  1850  and  1860,  William  H.  Seward 
of  New  York  was  regarded  by  the  slave 
holders  as  their  most  dreadful  enemy, 
mingled  with  a feeling  of  respect  if  not  of 
awe.  In  his  “irrepressible  conflict”  he 
boldly  assumed  a “higher  law”  than  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  it 
became  the  battle  cry  in  the  most  terrible 
conflict,  theretofore  known  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  He  detested  slavery  from 
principle  but  more  than  all  he  opposed  it 
with  all  his  great  powers  because  it  would 
cripple  the  Union  in  its  destined  career. 
He  saw  in  it  a permanent  element  of  po- 
litical weakness  and  obloquy  upon  free 
labor,  degrading  to  that  portion  of  our 
population  upon  which  our  future  great- 
ness depended. 

In  the  great  Senatorial  debate  in  Illi- 
nois between  Abraham  Lincoln  and 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1858,  Lincoln  added 
to  Seward’s  “higher  law”  the  additional 
doctrine  that  “a  house  divided  against  it- 
self cannot  stand”  and  that  therefore  the 
country  must  become  all  slave  or  all  free. 
This  sad-faced  man  from  the  ranks  of  the 
people,  keenly  alive  to  every  hardship  of 
pioneer  life ; acquainted  with  or  to  become 
acquainted  with  each  step  from  the  lowest 
to  the  highest  in  American  citizenship; 
kindly  at  heart,  modest  in  speech  and  bear- 
ing, and  more  nearly  the  prototype  of 
Jesus,  the  Nazarene,  than  any  man  who 
[218] 


had  lived  for  more  than  1800  years,  turn- 
ing to  his  great  opponent,  during  the  great 
meeting  at  Alton,  Illinois,  in  August,  1858, 
said,  “Is  slavery  wrong?  That  is  the  real 
question  at  issue  and  will  continue  to  be 
the  issue  when  these  poor  tongues  of  Judge 
Douglas  and  myself  are  silent.  It  is  the 
eternal  struggle  between  the  two  great 
principles  right  and  wrong,  that  have  stood 
face  to  face  with  each  other  from  the  be- 
ginning of  time  and  will  ever  continue  to 
struggle.” 

The  civilization  of  Plymouth  Rock  had 
moved  westward  north  of  the  40”  parallel 
of  latitude  and  the  civilization  of  James- 
town had  moved  westward  south  of  that 
line,  until  the  two  antagonistic  streams 
had  met  on  the  plains  of  Kansas  in  armed 
and  bloody  conflict.  A battle  line  2,000 
miles  in  length  was  formed,  extending 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rio  Grande  and 

2.250.000  men  on  the  one  side  fought  to 
perpetuate  the  Union  while  about 

1.500.000  on  the  other  side  fought  to  de- 
stroy the  Union  which  our  fore- 
fathers had  dedicated  to  freedom.  In  the 
mighty  cauldron  of  war,  only,  could  con- 
fusion be  fused  into  order  and  all  sections 
of  the  Union  started  abreast  with  each 
other  in  the  onward  sweep  of  civilization. 

The  first  gun  against  the  flag,  in 
Charleston  Harbor,  electrified  the  liberty 
loving  people  of  this  land  into  an  exhibition 
of  Patriotism  unknown  to  the  annals  of  the 
ages;  with  an  uprising  from  the  breath 
of  God,  our  people  from  every  avenue  of 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


219 


art  and  industry  sprang  to  arms  in  de- 
fense of  the  civilization  of  Plymouth  Rock, 
and  our  Southern  brethren,  with  equal  ar- 
dor, sprang  to  the  defense  of  the  civiliza- 
tion of  Jamestown. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  more  than  men- 
tion here  how  our  batallions  stood  like  a 
wall  of  iron  on  that  last  day  at  Shiloh,  how 
the  white  flag  waver  over  Donnelson,  how 
the  brave  men  of  the  north  and  the  south 
fell  in  the  bloody  angle  at  Spottsylvania, 
how  the  waves  of  battle  surged  and  rolled 
at  Gettysburg,  mid  the  mightiest  artillery 
combat  ever  witnessed  on  this  or  any  other 
continent,  how  Hooker  fought  above  the 
clouds  at  Lookout,  how  Sherman  marched 
to  the  sea,  how  Sheridan,  the  greatest  cav- 
alry captain  of  the  nineteenth  century  rode 
on  his  white-flecked  black  charger  through 
the  historic  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  and 
the  final  triumph  of  Grant,  the  silent  sol- 
dier at  Appomatox. 

Since  the  close  of  the  titanic  struggle, 
1,600,000  of  these  men  after  building  em- 
pires in  the  west,  have  marched  down  the 
declivity  of  life  and  pitched  their  tents  on 
the  eternal  camping  grounds  in  the  plains 
of  light.  There  were  360,000  of  them  mus- 
tered out  on  the  battle  field,  the  hospital 
and  prison  pen.  About  300,000  of  them 
yet  remain  at  an  average  of  75  years. 

When  the  renown  of  Greece,  Rome  and 
Napoleon  shall  have  grown  dim,  the  deeds 
of  these  men  will  illuminate  the  pages  of 
history  with  ever-increasing  brilliancy.  It 
was  their  example  that  induced  their  sons 
to  forever  sweep  from  the  western  hemis- 
phere 400  years  of  Spanish  tyranny,  and 
their  example  will  continue  to  inspire  their 
descendants  to  deeds  of  heroism  for  the 
republic.  Who  can  foresee  to  what  extent 
our  patriotism  and  resources  may  be  tested 
in  the  present  war  with  Germany.  Every 
military  organization  in  Ohio  at  once  ten- 
dered their  services  to  William  Dennison, 
the  Governor  of  Ohio,  within  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  call  of  President  Lincoln 
for  75,000  troops.  The  legislature  appro- 
priated $1,000,000  to  place  the  state  on  a 


war  footing.  A splendid  wave  of  patriot- 
ism submerged  the  influence  of  party  sen- 
timent. 

The  Governor  established  a camp  at 
Miamiville,  near  Cincinnati,  called  Camp 
Dennison  which  continued  to  receive  and 
discharge  troops  for  four  years.  George 
B.  McClellan  was  appointed  Major  General 
of  the  Ohio  militia.  Governor  Letcher  of 
Virginia  sent  troops  early  in  May  to  break 
up  the  Convention  in  Wheeling,  the  object 
of  which  was  to  form  a new  State  within 
the  Union,  of  West  Virginia.  Col.  Philip 
Steadman  and  his  troops  crossed  the  Ohio 
at  Marietta,  marched  to  Parkersburg  and 
quelled  a rebellious  disturbance  in  that 
city.  Col.  Irvine  crossed  at  Wheeling  with 
a regiment  of  loyal  Virginians.  These  two 
columns  met  at  the  railroad  junction  at 
Grafton  where  the  Letcher  troops  had  con- 
centrated and  hastily  retreated  when  the 
Ohioans  approached  and  who  followed 
them  to  Phillipi  where  the  first  fight  of  the 
Civil  War  occurred  and  in  favor  of  loyal 
troops.  The  convention  had  been  pro- 
tected, the  railway  system  had  been  re- 
tained and  West  Virginia  secured  to  the 
Union. 

Gen.  Rosencranz,  with  McClellan’s  ad- 
vance, and  unaided,  defeated  Garnett  at 
Laurel  Hill  and  pushed  him  eastward.  Mc- 
Clellan failed  to  intercept  Garnett’s  re- 
treat but  Steadman  overtook  him  at  Car- 
rick’s  Ford  where  a sharp  engagement 
took  place  in  which  Gai’nett  was  killed. 
Ohio  had  driven  the  rebels  from  West  Vir- 
ginia as  a gift  to  the  Nation. 

When  McClellan  was  called  to  Washing- 
ton, Rosencranz  succeeded  him  in  com- 
mand. The  three  months’  men  had  been 
mustered  out  and  the  three  years’  men  had 
been  mustered  in  but  not  enough  to  hold 
the  captured  territory  in  the  face  of  the 
determined  plans  of  Governor  Letcher  for 
its  recapture,  who  had  despatched  General 
Robert  E.  Lee,  the  greatest  General  of  the 
South  in  charge  of  an  offensive  campaign. 
Rosencranz  wrote  Governor  Dennison  as 
follows:  Tf  you,  Governor  of  Indiana  and 
Governor  of  Michigon  will  lend  your  ef- 


220 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


forts  to  get  me  quickly  50,000  men  in  ad- 
dition to  my  present  force,  I think  a blow 
can  be  struck  which  will  save  fighting  the 
rifled  cannon  batteries  at  Manasses.  Lee 
is  certainly  at  Cheat  Mountain.  Send  all 
the  troops  you  can  to  Grafton.”  The  plans 
of  Rosencranz  were  made  futile  by  the 
dispatch  of  all  available  troops  in  the  west 
to  the  aid  of  Fremont  at  Springfield,  Mo. 

Gen.  J.  D.  Cox,  commanded  the  forces  of 
Rosencranz  in  the  Kanawa  Valley.  Cox, 
notwithstanding  he  had  received  heavy 
reinforcements,  became  alarmed  at  the 
threatening  appearance  on  his  front,  tele- 
graphed to  Governor  Dennison  for  help. 
Rosencranz  again  appealed  to  the  Gover- 
nor for  reinforcement  to  march  across  the 
country  against  Floyd  and  Wise  to  Cox’s 
relief.  “I  want  to  catch  Floyd  while  Cox 
holds  him  in  front.  He  was  able  to  use  23 
Ohio  Regiments  with  which  he  again  drove 
the  rebels  from  West  Virginia.  The  cam- 
paign, so  far  waged,  the  battles  so  far 
fought  and  the  victories  so  far  won,  had 
been  the  work  of  Ohio  men.  The  country 
they  had  wrested  from  the  enemy  was  gar- 
risoned, the  exposed  railroads,  so  impor- 
tant to  successful  military  operations, 
were  guarded  after  which  the  State  settled 
down  to  a thorough  and  systematic  organ- 
ization of  every  department  in  aid  of  suc- 
cessful warfare,  including  the  medical.  A 
laboratory  for  the  supply  of  ammunition 
was  established  at  Columbus.  Camp  Den- 
nison and  Camp  Chase  had  been  placed 
under  the  control  of  the  United  States;  a 
regular  system  was  placed  in  operation  to 
supply  stores  and  clothing  to  the  suffering 
at  home  and  in  the  field.  During  the  Fall 
and  early  Winter  of  1861,  the  Ohio  troops 
suffered  in  West  Virginia.  The  people 
came  promptly  to  their  assistance  with 
blankets,  clothing  and  other  supplies. 
Among  the  letters  which  were  written 
from  the  three  soldier  sons  of  our  imme- 
diate family  to  the  folks  at  home  and  from 
the  latter  to  those  in  the  field,  the  follow- 
ing will,  in  a degree,  explain  that  the  peo- 
ple at  home  were  keenly  alive  to  their 
duty: 


At  Home,  August  19,  1861. 

Dear  Son: — 

I write  you  a few  lines  to  let  you  know 
how  we  are  all  doing.  I would  have  writ- 
ten sooner  but  as  Francis  (myself)  wrote 
immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  your  let- 
ter, I concluded  to  defer  until  this  week. 
We  are  all  well  as  usual  and  hope  these 
few  lines  may  find  you  in  good  health  and 
spirit.  I suppose  that  Francis  wrote  you 
that  Will  had  enlisted.  He  will  leave 
Springfield  on  Wednesday  a week  and  go 
to  Zanesville  and  from  there  they  do  not 
know  where  they  will  be  ordered  but  likely 
to  West  Virginia  (it  was  to  Kentucky).  I 
hope  you  may  not  become  discouraged. 
Always  keep  in  view  the  righteousness  of 
our  cause  and  the  necessity  of  true  pa- 
triotism. If  our  government  is  destroyed, 
life  itself  will  hardy  be  desirable.  I think 
that  by  a united  effort  and  a full  reliance 
in  God  that  we  will  come  off  victorious  and 
those  who  have  suffered  and  struggled  for 
the  maintenance  of  our  government  may 
come  home  and  sit  down  in  peace  with  a 
name  that  will  be  envied  by  traitors.  Do 
not  think  that  we  forget  you  and  our  pray- 
ers constantly  go  up  for  your  safety  and 
for  your  return  home  some  day.  Enclosed 
find  a dollar  bill  for  stamps.  Please  write 
us  at  least  once  a week.  We  are  at  the 
post  office  every  mail  day,  anxious  to  get  a 
letter  from  you.  Give  my  respects  to  all 
the  boys  and  especially  to  Muray  and  tell 
him  to  write  me  without  fail.  Tell  Captain 
Curtis  to  write  me. 

Farewell  for  the  present, 

F.  W.  STERRETT. 

The  above  was  addressed  to  Jacob  R. 
Sterrett  in  care  of  Captain  Curtis,  Co.  D. 
11th  Ohio  Regiment,  General  Cox’  Bri- 
gade, Gallipolis,  Ohio,  the  latter  being  the 
mail  distributing  point  for  the  army  in 
the  interior.  The  11th  Ohio  was  at  that 
time  at  Gauley  Bridge. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  from 
Sergeant  Jacob  R.  Sterrett  11th  O.  V.  I., 
will  furnish  some  idea  of  conditions  in  the 
field  at  that  time. 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


221 


Gauley  Bridge,  August  21,  1861. 
Dear  Brother: 

I seat  myself  once  more  to  write  you  a 
few  lines.  It  is  raining  hard  and  I will 
not  have  to  work  on  the  entrenchments  to- 
day, as  I expected.  It  has  rained  every 
day  for  the  last  week.  Great  excitement 
was  caused  last  night  when  a staff  officer 
of  Gen.  Cox  shot  an  orderly  sergeant  in 
the  Kentucky  Regiment  who  refused  to 
work  his  men  on  the  entrenchments  until 
they  had  something  to  eat.  They  had  been 
on  picket  all  day  yesterday  and  had  no 
dinner.  He  was  arrested  immediately  and 
it  was  as  much  as  Gen.  Cox  could  do  to 
keep  the  Kentucky  boys  from  raiding  his 
quarters  and  killing  him.  The  officer., has 
been  tried  and  will  be  shot  tomorrow.  I 
wrote  a letter  day  before  yesterday  and 
when  you  get  it  you  will  hear  all  about  our 
fighting.  I don’t  know  what  letters  you 
receive  and  those  you  do  not.  I received 
your  postage  stamps  and  was  glad  to  get 
them  for  I was  out.  I was  looking  over 
the  letters  this  morning  and  found  5 cents 
in  the  one  John  and  Katie  sent  (aged  13 
and  11  then)  and  was  glad  to  get  it,  little 
as  it  was,  for  money  is  scarce  in  this 
country.  I will  have  to  close  for  we  are 
going  on  a scout  this  afternoon  and  will 
probably  be  gone  for  a week.  All  the 
Honey  Creek  boys  are  well  and  hardy. 
George  Ullery  and  William  Scobey  came 
pretty  nigh  being  taken  prisoner.  Write 
to  me  about  the  boys  on  Honey  Creek  and 
whether  any  of  them  are  secessionists. 
Tell  David  Strock  he  promised  me  he  would 
enlist  after  harvest  (he  did  in  the  44th  0. 
V.  I.) 

Write  soon. 

Your  brother, 

JACOB  R.  STERRETT. 

A letter  from  Moutain  Cave,  Va.,  on 
Sept.  17th,  1861 : 

“Have  been  doing  scout  work  several 
weeks  and  been  in  some  pretty  tight 
places.  Rosecranz  attacked  Gen.  Floyd 
last  Friday  and  had  a complete  victory. 


He  was  within  20  miles  of  Gauley  and 
coming  to  attack  it.  He  retreated  back  on 
the  Summerville  road  and  joined  Wise.  At 
one  o’oclock  Friday  night,  we  went  up  New 
River  12  miles  to  the  point  where  Floyd 
joined  Wise;  were  to  meet,  but  were  a half 
hour  late.  They  had  hurrid  away.  They 
are  expected  to  make  a stand  at  Sewel 
Mountain.  We  will  go  round  the  other 
way  and  get  there  before  the  enemy,  if 
possible.  I am  glad  to  hear  of  our  boys 
on  Honey  Creek  turning  out  so  well  for 
the  war.  All  the  boys  are  well  except 
George  Ullery  who  has  been  in  the  hospi- 
tal for  two  weeks.  Tell  Grandfather  Ul- 
lery I think  of  him  often  and  the  war  tales 
of  1812  in  which  he  was  a soldier.  I am 
writing  on  the  ground.” 

The  following  letter  will  explain  to  some 
degree  the  work  being  done  at  that  time 
by  those  at  home  in  every  community  of 
the  State: 

Springfield,  Ohio,  Oct.  25,  1861. 

S.  W.  Sterrett, 

Christiansburg,  Ohio. 

I have  been  requested  by  our  Committee 
to  write  you  in  regard  to  the  necessity  of 
some  measures  being  taken  to  provide 
means  to  subsist  the  families  of  those  who 
have  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  U.  S.  A. 
Our  list  has  increased  considerable  since  I 
saw  you  and  our  funds  will  not  last  more 
than  a month  longer  if  that.  If  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  County  cannot  do  any  thing,  we 
must  make  some  other  arrangement  as  it 
will  not  do  to  withdraw  our  support  from 
these  families.  Will  you  please  set  a day 
at  your  earliest  convenience  to  meet  the 
other  committee  and  inform  them  of  the 
time  you  set. 

Yours  sincerely, 

G.  S.  FOOS. 

I have  more  than  200  of  these  war  let- 
ters, written  between  1861-5  which  trace 
the  campaigns  of  the  11th  0.  V.  I.  through 
the  two  Virginias,  Maryland,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  embracing  descriptions  of 


222 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  battles  of  the  Second  Bull  Run,  South 
Mountain,  Antietam  and  other  smaller  en- 
gagements. The  last  one  is  written  Sept. 
11th,  1863,  from  near  Chattanooga  and 
then  the  pen  and  voice  became  forever 
quiet.  His  life  went  out  at  Chickamauga 
from  a bullet  through  the  breast.  Other 
letters  in  this  unusual  collection  trace  the 
campaigns  of  the  31st  0.  V.  I.  through 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  One  of  these 
letters  contains  a piece  of  silk  suspender 
worn  by  Gen.  Zollicoffer  at  the  battle  of 
Mills  Springs,  before  being  shot  in  that 
battle  by  Gen.  James  B.  Frye  of  Danville, 
Ky.  Others  of  this  collection  trace  the 
campaigns  of  the  5th  Independent  Batal- 
lion  of  Ohio  Cavalry  through  eastern  and 
southeastern  Kentucky  and  the  Cumber- 
land range,  describing  the  burning  of  the 
Court  House  at  Winchester  by  the  Cook 
guerrillas,  their  pursuit  and  punishment, 
the  fight  at  Louisa  Court  House,  the  ar- 
rest of  the  author  of  this  history  for  writ- 
ing contraband  war  news  to  be  told  here- 
after in  the  County  history ; the  experience 
of  the  147th  O.  V.  I.  in  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  and  the  experience  of  the 
author  on  the  surveying  party  in  plat- 
ting Arlington  Heights,  the  property  of 
Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  consisting  of  1100 
acres,  for  a National  Cemetery  where 
thousands  of  our  most  distinguished  sol- 
diers now  rest. 

David  A.  Todd  succeeded  William  Den- 
nison as  Governor  of  Ohio  in  1862,  and 
signaled  his  entrance  into  office  by  a thor- 
ough and  systematic  system  of  relief  work 
which  was  subsequently  copied  by  all  of 
the  States.  The  agencies  in  Cincinnati, 
Washington,  Memphis,  Cairo  and  St.  Louis 
undertook  the  care  of  all  disabled  soldiers 
from  Ohio  Regiments  who  sifted  through 
from  the  front. 

The  President  became  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  the  capitol  at  this  time  endan- 
gered as  it  was  by  the  dash  of  Stonewall 
Jackson  down  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  In 
the  call  for  additional  troops,  five  thousand 
men  responded  to  Governor  Tod’s  procla- 
mation, at  Camp  Chase,  in  one  day  and  the 


quota  for  Ohio  was  more  than  filled.  In 
June,  under  the  President’s  call  for  an 
additional  500,000  men,  the  apportionment 
for  Ohio  was  74,000  of  which  she  raised 

54.000  volunteers  and  drafted  20,000  more 
on  Sept.  15th,  1862,  and  Ohio  was  ahead 
of  her  calls  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

In  June  and  July,  1863,  John  H.  Morgan 
crossed  the  Ohio  river  for  the  purpose  of 
plunder  for  himself  and  followers;  to  pre- 
pare the  way  for  Buckner  to  dash  into 
Kentucky  from  Tennessee  and  seize  Louis- 
ville and  with  Morgan  to  capture  Cincin- 
nati; to  form  the  nucleus  of  an  armed 
counter-revolution  in  the  northwest  where 
the  “Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle”  or  the 
“Sons  of  Liberty”  of  the  peace  faction, 
were  numerous ; and  to  prevent  reinforce- 
ments from  being  sent  to  Meade  from  that 
region. 

Already  about  80  Kentuckians,  on  June 
19,  1863,  had  crossed  the  Ohio  to  Indiana 
to  test  the  temper  of  the  people.  They 
were  captured.  Morgan  started  June  27th, 
1863,  with  3,500  men  well  mounted  and  six 
guns,  crossing  the  Cumberland  river  at 
Burkesville,  and  pushing  on  encountered 
some  loyal  cavalry  at  Columbia,  Tenn.,  on 
July  3,  1863,  and  fought  them  for  three 
hours  and  partly  sacked  the  town  and  pro- 
ceeded to  destroy  a bridge  over  the  Green 
river,  when  he  was  driven  away  after  a 
desperate  fight  of  several  hours  by  200 
Michigan  troops  under  Col.  Moore  well 
intrenched.  Morgan  lost  twenty-nine.  He 
rushed  into  Lebanon,  captured  a small 
Union  force  there,  set  fire  to  the  place  and 
lost  his  brother,  killed  in  the  fight.  He 
reached  the  Ohio,  40  miles  below  Louis- 
ville, July  7th,  1863.  His  ranks  were 
swelled  as  he  went  plundering  through 
Kentucky  and  he  crossed  the  Ohio  with 

4.000  men  and  two  guns.  He  captured  two 
steamers  with  which  he  crossed.  He  was 
closely  pursued  by  some  troops  under  Gen. 
Hobson  of  Kentucky,  and  others  went  up 
the  Ohio  river  in  steamboats  to  intercept 
him.  He  plundered  Corydon,  the  former 
State  capitol  of  Indiana,  murdered  citi- 
zens and  stole  300  horses.  On  he  went, 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


223 


robbing  mill  and  factory  owners  by  de- 
manding $1,000  as  a condition  for  the 
safety  of  their  property.  In  like  manner, 
he  went  from  village  to  village  until  the 
12th,  when  at  a railway  near  Vernon,  he 
encountered  Col.  Lowe  with  1200  militia- 
mnn.  Morgan  was  assured  that  Indiana 
was  aroused  and  that  there  was  a great 
uprising  of  the  loyal  people  against  him. 
The  victories  at  Gettysburg  and  Vicksburg 
now  inspired  the  people.  Gov.  Morton 
called  on  the  citizens  to  turn  out  and  expel 
the  invaders.  Within  48  hours,  65,000 
citizens  had  tendered  their  services  and 
were  hastening  toward  the  rendezvous. 
Morgan  was  alarmed.  He  stole  fresh 
horses  for  the  race  before  Hobson,  his 
persistent  pursuer.  He  passed  swiftly 
north  of  Cincinnati  through  the  southern 
counties  of  Ohio  and  struck  the  river  a 
little  north  of  Pomeroy.  The  people  of 
Ohio,  also,  were  aroused.  Gen.  Judah  went 
up  the  Ohio  from  Cincinnati  in  steam- 
boats to  head  him  off,  and  the  people  were 
gathered  from  different  points.  At  Buf- 
fington ford,  he  attempted  to  cross  the 
river  and  escape  into  Virginia,  but  there 
the  head  of  Hobson’s  column,  under  Gen. 
Shackleford  struck  his  rear,  Gen.  Judah 
struck  his  flank  and  two  armed  vessels  in 
the  stream  opened  upon  his  front.  Hem- 
med in,  about  800  of  his  men  surrendered 
and  the  remainder,  leaving  all  their  plun- 
der behind  them,  followed  their  leader  up 
the  river,  and  again  attempted  to  cross 
to  Belleville  by  swimming  their  horses. 
About  300  crossed,  but  the  remainder 
were  driven  back  by  a gunboat,  when 
Morgan  fled  inland  to  McArthur,  fighting 
militia,  burning  bridges  and  plundering. 
At  last,  he  was  obliged  to  surrender  to 
Gen.  Shackelford,  July  26th,  1863,  at  New 
Lisbon,  the  capitol  of  Columbian  County. 
Morgan  and  some  of  his  officers  were  con- 
fined in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  at  Colum- 
bus from  which  he  and  six  others  escaped 
in  November  and  joined  the  Confederate 
forces  in  northern  Georgia. 


The  race  betwen  the  troops  of  Morgan 
and  his  pursuers  had  continued  three 
weeks  without  cessation  at  the  rate  of  35 
miles  a day.  Morgan  afterward  received 
a great  ovation  at  Richmond  as  a great 
hero. 

During  the  twenty  years  I lived  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  between  1885  and  1905,  I be- 
came acquainted  with  and  the  personal 
friend  of  a Captain  Cohn,  of  near  Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky,  formerly,  and  one  of  the 
captains  in  the  Morgan  raid,  with  whom  I 
spent  many  hours  in  discussion  of  the  mil- 
itary significance  of  that  wild  ride  of  a 
few  thousand  men  to  end  in  capture.  The 
captain  was  sincere  in  his  belief  that  it 
was  planned  on  the  lines  set  forth  in  the 
head  of  this  article.  The  most  the  captain 
would  say  in  reference  to  the  wholesale 
plunder  that  is  known  to  have  accom- 
panied that  ride  was  that  that  feature  was 
unfortunate- 

W.  H.  Hines,  of  Bowling  Green,  Ken- 
tucky, a cousin  of  the  Capt.  Hines  who 
rode  with  Morgan  and  was  confined  with 
him  in  Columbus,  lived  in  St.  Louis,  dur- 
ing the  twenty  years  I resided  there  and 
was  my  most  intimate  friend.  He,  too, 
believed,  that  the  raid  of  Morgan  was 
planned  for  far-reaching  military  effect. 
From  statements  made  by  Capt.  Hines, 
they  counted  on  reaching  the  Ohio  river 
with  20,000  men  and  recruiting  30,000 
more  in  Indiana  and  Ohio  from  the 
“Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,”  and  the 
“Sons  of  Liberty,”  who  were  known  to  be 
armed.  They  had  to  learn  that  the  class 
on  whom  they  depended  were  truly  “cop- 
perheads” who  hissed  but  did  not  strike. 

In  the  Beers’  History  of  Miami  County 
on  page  189,  the  author  among  other 
statements  in  relation  to  the  Morgan  raid, 
says,  “Morgan’s  purposes  were  never 
clear.”  It  is  certain,  however,  that  Mor- 
gan made  it  clear  to  his  officers  that  his 
purposes  were  as  above  written. 


224 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


PROMINENT  OHIO  GENERALS 

George  Briton  McClellan,  the  first  Gen- 
eral appointed  in  Ohio,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 3,  1826,  in  Philadelphia.  His  father 
was  a physician  of  high  standing  and  of 
Scotch  descent.  Young  George  was  in 
school  in  Philadelphia,  and  entered  West 
Point  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  At  the  age  of 
twenty,  he  was  a brevet  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, tracing  lines  of  investment  before 
Vera  Cruz,  under  the  supervision  of  Capt. 
R.  E.  Lee,  First  Lieutenant  P.  G.  T.  Beau- 
regard, Second  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Smith. 
At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  old  Col. 
Totten  reported  in  favor  of  them  all  to 
Winfield  Scott.  He  had  charge  of  an  ex- 
ploring expedition  to  the  mountains  of 
Oregon  and  Washington,  beginning  with 
the  Cascade  Range.  This  was  one  of  a 
series  of  Pacific  Railway  explorations. 
Returning  to  Washington,  he  was  detailed 
to  visit  the  West  Indies  and  secretly  select 
a coaling  station  for  the  United  States 
Navy.  He  was  dispatched  by  Jefferson 
Davis,  Secretary  of  War  to  Europe  with 
instructions  to  take  full  reports  of  the  or- 
ganization of  military  forces  connected 
with  the  Crimean  War.  This  work  elic- 
ited entire  satisfaction.  He  returned  in 
January,  1857,  resigned  as  regular  army 
officer  and  was  soon  installed  as  engineer 
of  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  In  1860  he 
was  president  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi. 
He  removed  to  Cincinnati  where  he  was  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war. 

William  Starks  Rosencranz  was  born 
September  6th,  1819,  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio.  His  people  were  from  Amsterdam. 
He  was  educated  at  West  Point.  When 
the  war  opened,  he  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  Union  with  enthusiastic  zeal,  and  was 
appointed  by  McClellan  on  his  staff  as 
Engineer.  June  9,  he  was  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  State  under  special  law.  Soon 
thereafter,  he  was  Colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
third  Ohio,  and  assigned  to  the  command 
of  Camp  Chase,  Columbus.  On  May  16, 
his  commission  was  out  as  Brigadier  Gen- 


eral in  the  United  States  Army.  This 
reached  him  and  he  was  speedily  sum- 
moned to  active  service  under  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan. After  the  battle  of  Rich  Moun- 
tain, he  was  promoted  to  the  head  of  the 
department. 

” In  April,  1862,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Fremont,  and  ordered  to  Washington  to 
engage  in  immediate  service  for  the  Sec- 
retary of  War.  About  the  15th  of  May, 
he  was  ordered  to  Gen.  Halleck  before 
Corinth.  He  was  relieved  from  his  com- 
mand December  9,  1864. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant,  whose  history  we  can- 
not attempt  to  give  in  these  pages,  was 
born  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  at  Point 
Pleasant,  Clemont  County,  Ohio,  April  27, 
1822.  He  entered  West  Point  in  1839. 

"That  the  son  of  a tanner,  poor  and  un- 
pretending, without  influential  friends 
until  his  performance  had  won  them,  ill- 
used  to  the  world  and  its  ways,  should 
rise — not  suddenly,  in  the  first  blind  wor- 
ship of  helpless  ignorance  which  made  any 
one  who  understood  regimental  tactics  il- 
lustrious in  advance  for  what  he  was  go- 
ing to  do,  not  at  all  for  what  he  had  done — 
but  slowly,  grade  by  grade,  through  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  constant  service  and  min- 
gled blunders  and  success,  till,  at  the  end 
of  four  years’  war  he  stood  at  the  head  of 
our  armies,  crowned  by  popular  acclaim 
our  greatest  soldier,  is  a satisfactory  an- 
swer to  criticism  and  a sufficient  vindica- 
tion of  greatness.  Success  succeeds.” 

"We  may  reason  on  the  man’s  career, 
we  may  prove  that  at  few  stages  has  he 
shown  evidence  of  marked  ability,  we  may 
demonstrate  his  mistakes,  we  may  swell 
the  praises  of  his  subordinates,  but  after 
all,  the  career  stands  wonderful,  unique, 
worthy  of  study  so  long  as  the  nation  hon- 
ors her  benefactors,  or  the  State  cherishes 
the  good  fame  of  the  sons  who  contributed 
most  to  her  honor.” 

Lieut.  Gen.  William  Tecumseh  Sherman 
was  another  Ohio  contribution  to  the  great 
Union  war.  He  was  born  at  Lancaster, 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


225 


February  8,  1820.  He  entered  West  Point 
in  June,  1836.  His  “inarch  to  the  sea”  has 
fully  brought  out  the  details  of  his  life, 
since  they  were  rendered  interesting  to  all, 
and  we  refrain  from  repeating  the  well- 
known  story. 

Philip  H.  Sheridan  was  born  on  the  6th 
of  March,  1831,  in  Somerset,  Perry 
County,  Ohio.  He  entered  West  Point  in 
1848.  During  the  war,  his  career  was 
brilliant.  His  presence  meant  victory. 
Troops  fighting  under  his  command  were 
inspired.  Gen.  Rosencranz  said  of  him: 
“He  fights,  he  fights.”  A staff  officer  once 
said,  “He  is  an  emphatic  human  syllable.” 

Maj.  Gen.  James  B,  McPherson  was 
born  in  Sandusky  County,  town  of  Clyde, 
November  14th,  1828. 

Maj.  Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1825,  at  Black  River,  Lorain 
County,  Ohio. 

Maj.  Gen.  Irvin  McDowell  was  born  at 
Franklinton,  Ohio,  Oct.  15,  1818. 

Maj.  Gen.  Don  Carlos  Buell  was  born 
near  Marietta  on  the  23rd  of  March,  1818. 
His  grandfather  on  the  maternal  side  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Cincinnati. 

Maj.  Gen.  0.  M.  Mitchell  was  a native 
of  Kenutcky,  but  a resident  of  Ohio  from 
the  age  of  four  years. 

Maj.  Gen.  Robert  C.  Schenck  was  born 
October  4th,  1809,  in  Franklin,  Warren 
County,  Ohio. 

Maj.  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  was  born 
in  Orange,  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 19,  1831. 

Maj.  Gen.  Jacob  D.  Cox  was  born  in 
Canada  in  1828  and  removed  to  Ohio  in 
1846. 

Maj.  Gen.  James  B.  Steedman  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  July  30,  1818,  and  re- 
moved to  Toledo  in  1861. 

Maj.  Gen.  David  S.  Stanley  was  born 
in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  June  1,  1828. 

Maj.  Gen.  George  Crook  was  born  in 
Mongtomery  County,  Ohio,  September  8, 
1828. 

Maj.  Gen.  Mortimer  D.  Leggett  was 


born  in  New  York  April  19,  1831,  and 
emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1847. 

Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  John  C.  Tidball  was 
born  in  Virginia,  but  removed  while  a mere 
lad  to  Ohio  with  his  parents. 

Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  John  W.  Fuller  was 
born  in  England  in  1827.  He  removed  to 
Toledo  in  1858. 

Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  Manning  F.  Force 
was  born  in  Washington,  D.  C.  on  the  17th 
of  December,  1824.  He  became  a citizen 
of  Cincinnati. 

Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  Henry  B.  Banning 
was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1834. 

We  add  the  names  of  Brevet  Maj.  Gens. 
Erastus  B.  Tyler,  Thomas  H.  Ewing, 
Charles  R.  Woods,  August  V.  Kautz,  Ruth- 
erford B.  Hayes,  Charles  C.  Walcutt,  Ken- 
ner Garrard,  Hugh  Ewing,  Samuel  Beatty, 
James  S.  Robinson,  Jospeh  W.  Keifer,  Eli 
Long,  William  B.  Woods,  John  W. 
Sprague,  Benjamin  P.  Runkle,  August 
Willich,  Charles  Griffin,  Henry  J.  Hunt,  B. 
W.  Brice,  Brig.  Gens.  Robert  L.  McCook, 
William  H.  Lytle,  William  Leroy  Smith, 
C.  P.  Buckingham,  Ferdinand  Van  Der- 
veer,  George  P.  Este,  Joel  A.  Dewey,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Potts,  Jacob  Ammen,  Daniel  Mc- 
Cook, J.  W.  Forsyth,  Ralph  P.  Buckland, 
William  H.  Powell,  John  G.  Mitchell,  Eli- 
akim  P.  Scammon,  Charles  G.  Harker,  J. 
W.  Reilly,  Joshua  W.  Sill,  N.  C.  McLean, 
William  T.  H.  Brooks,  George  W.  Morgan, 
John  Beatty,  William  W.  Burns,  John  S. 
Mason,  S.  S.  Carroll,  Henry  B.  Carring- 
ton, M.  S.  Wade,  John  P.  Slough,  T.  K. 
Smith,  Brevet  Brig.  Gens.  C.  B.  Ludlow, 
Gens.  C.  B.  Ludlow,  Andrew  Hicken- 
looper,  B.  D.  Fearing,  G.  F.  Wiles,  Thomas 
M.  Vincent,  J.  S.  Jones,  Stephen  B.  Yeo- 
man, F.  W.  Moore,  Thomas  F.  Wilder, 
Isaac  Sherwood,  C.  H.  Grosvenor,  Moses 
E.  Walker,  R.  N.  Adams,  E.  B.  Eggleston, 
I.  M.  Kirby. 

We  find  numerous  other  names  of  Bre- 
vet Brigadier  Generals,  mostly  of  late  ap- 
pointments, and  not  exercising  commands 


226 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


in  accordance  with  their  brevet  rank, 
which  we  omit  quoting  through  lack  of 
space.  They  are  the  names  of  men  of  rare 
abilities,  and  in  many  cases  of  brilliant 
achievements. 

In  looking  over  the  “War  Record  of 
Ohio”  we  find  the  State  a great  leader  in 
men  of  valor  and  heroic  deeds.  It  was  the 
prolific  field  of  military  geniuses. 

An  interesting  story  was  told  me  by 
General  W.  I.  Sherman,  who  lived  in  St. 
Louis  a number  of  years  after  the  war  and 
to  whom  the  citizens  presented  a fine  home 
on  Garison  avenue.  I sat  with  him  often 
in  the  post  room  and  as  a fellow  delegate 
to  national  encampments  and  believe  him 
to  have  been  not  only  one  of  the  greatest 
soldiers  in  history  but  a man  in  whom 
there  was  no  guile.  There  was  a banquet 
held  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  of  the  loyal 
legion  at  which  Grant  Presided  and  ad- 
dressed, followed  by  Sherman  and  Sheri- 
dan who  referred  to  their  birthplace  in 
Ohio  with  considerable  pride.  Some  one 
facetiously  remarked  that  Ohio  had  cer- 
tainly had  her  inning  and  called  upon  Gen. 
Rosencranz,  who  arose  and  said:  “If  Ohio 
speakers  are  to  be  cut  out,  excuse  me  as 
I was  bora  in  Delaware,  Ohio.”  Some  one 
from  the  east  arose  and  said  “excuse  me,  I 
was  born  at  Franklinton,  Ohio.  Buell  was 
then  called  out  and  said:  “Excuse  me,  I 
was  born  at  Marietta,  Ohio.”  Gen.  Mit- 
chell was  called  out  and  amid  roars  of 
laughter  and  applause  replied,  “I  have  been 
a resident  of  Ohio  since  I was  four  years 
of  age.” 

German  Sherman  delighted  in  telling  the 
above  and  one  other  in  a similar  relation 
which  applied  specifically  to  himself.  He 
and  a party  of  friends  had  listened  to  the 
great  Italian  tenor  of  the  unpronouncable 
name,  with  much  gratification  and  after 
the  performance,  as  was  Sherman’s  fre- 
quent custom  he  and  his  party  went  behind 
the  scenes  and  were  introduced  to  the 
great  tenor.  Sherman  said:  ‘I  have  often 
wished  and  am  fixed  in  my  intention  to 
sometime  visit  the  scenes  of  your  birth- 


place and  revel  in  its  glorious  sunshine  and 
drink  deeply  at  the  fountain  of  its  wonder- 
ful history.”  The  great  tenor  replied: 
“My  dear  general,  I was  born  on  Snaky 
Creek,  near  Steubenville,  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ohio.” 

Ohio  was  draped  with  the  garb  of 
mourning  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Her 
human  sacrifice  in  behalf  of  the  nation 
had  been  bitter.  There  were  tears  and 
heart  aches  all  over  the  land.  Her  ranks 
were  swept  by  a murderous  fire,  from 
which  they  never  flinched,  and  many  offi- 
cers fell. 

Col.  John  H.  Patrick  will  be  remem- 
bered as  opening  the  battle  of  Lookout 
Mountain.  He  fell  mortally  wounded, 
during  the  Atlanta  campaign,  May  15, 
1862,  while  actively  engaged.  He  was 
struck  by  a canister  shot,  and  expired  half 
a hour  thereafter. 

Col.  John  T.  Toland,  in  July,  1863,  was 
placed  in  command  of  a mounted  brigade, 
including  his  regiment,  and  was  instructed 
to  destroy  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee 
Railroad.  He  reached  Wytheville,  Va.,  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  18th  of  July.  The 
rebels  were  safely  entrenched  in  the 
house,  and  poured  a galling  fire  into  the 
national  troops.  Col.  Toland  was  on 
horseback,  at  the  head  of  his  command.  A 
sharp  shooter  sent  a bullet  with  fatal  cer- 
tainty, and  he  fell  on  the  neck  of  his  horse, 
but  was  instantly  caught  by  his  Orderly 
Sergeant  who  heard  the  fervent  words: 
“My  horse  and  my  sword  to  my  mother.” 

Lieut.  Col.  Barton  S.  Kyle  accompanied 
his  regiment  to  the  battle  of  Pittsburg 
Landing.  The  regiment  was  forced  back, 
though  resisting  bravely.  Lieut.  Col.  Kyle 
was  at  his  post  of  duty,  encouraging  his 
men,  when  he  received  a bullet  in  his  right 
breast.  He  survived  five  hours. 

Col.  William  Jones  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  June,  1863.  His 
regiment,  the  thirty-sixth  Ohio,  was  in- 
cluded in  Turchin’s  Bridage  of  the  Four- 
teenth Corps.  He  wrote  in  his  pocket 
memoranda:  “Off  to  the  left;  merciful 


•OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


227 


Father,  have  mercy  on  me  and  my  regi- 
ment, and  protect  us  from  injury  and 
death.” — at  12  o’clock.  At  5 that  after- 
noon, he  was  fatally  wounded  and  expired 
at  7 that  same  evening,  on  the  battlefield. 
His  remains  were  taken  by  the  rebels,  but 
in  December,  1863,  they  were  exhumed 
and  interred  in  Spring  Grove  Cemetery, 
Cincinnati. 

Col.  Fred.  C.  Jones  held  command  of 
the  Tenth  Brigade  in  October,  1862, 
marching  from  Wild  Cat,  Ky.,  to  Nash- 
ville, through  a perpetual  skirmish.  Dur- 
ing the  battle  of  Stone  River,  Col.  Jones’ 
regiment,  the  24th,  was  on  the  front  and 
left  of  the  line.  During  the  afternoon 
when  the  rebel  assault  upon  the  left  be- 
came furious,  Col.  Jones  ordered  his  men 
to  lie  down  and  hold  fire,  which  was 
obeyed.  They  rose  to  pour  a deadly  volley 
into  the  rebel  ranks,  and  rush  forward  in 
a fierce  charge.  The  capture  of  an  entire 
rebel  regiment  was  thus  effected,  but  Col. 
Jones  was  shot  in  the  right  side.  He  was 
carried  to  the  rear.  “I  know  it,  I am  dy- 
ing now;  pay  no  attention  to  me  but  look 
after  my  wounded  men.”  He  survived 
about  ten  hours.  His  remains  are  buried 
in  Spring  Grove,  Cincinnati. 

Col.  Lorin  Andrews  went  with  his  com- 
mand to  Western  Virginia,  where  he  suc- 
cumbed to  exposure  and  severe  duty.  He 
was  removed  to  his  home,  Gambier,  Ohio, 
where  he  died,  surrounded  by  friends  Sep- 
tember 18,  1861. 

Col.  Minor  Milliken  was  sent  to  repel 
the  attacks  of  the  rebels  at  the  rear.  He 
led  a superb  cavalry  charge  against  the 
enemy,  vastly  superior  in  numbers,  and 
was  cut  off  with  a small  portion  of  his 
regiment.  He  disdained  to  surrender,  and 
ordered  his  men  to  cut  their  way  out.  A 
hand-to-hand  conflict  ensued.  Col.  Milli- 
ken, being  an  expert  swordsman,  was  able 
to  protect  himself  with  his  saber.  While 
parrying  the  strokes  of  his  assailant,  an- 
other shot  him.  The  regiment,  again 
charging,  recovered  his  body,  stripped  of 
sword,  purse  and  watch. 


Col.  George  P.  Webster,  with  his  regi- 
ment, the  Ninety-eighth,  left  Steubenville 
for  Covington,  Ky.,'  August  23,  1862, 
marching  from  that  point  to  Lexington 
and  Louisville.  - He  was  placed  at  the 
command  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Brigade, 
Jackson’s  division,  Crook’s  corps.  He  fell 
in  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  and  died  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

Col.  Leander  Stem  was  appointed  Col- 
onel of  the  One  Hundred  and  First  Ohio 
Infantry  August  30,  1862..  His  premo- 
nitions that  he  should  fall  during  his  first 
regular  engagement  proved  too  true.  As 
the  army  was  advancing  on  Murfreesboro, 
the  engagement  of  Knob  Gap  occurred, 
when  Col.  Stem’s  regiment  charged  and 
took  a rebel  battery,  with  several  prison- 
ers. The  army  closed  around  Murfrees- 
boro and  on  the  evening  of  the  30th,  the 
One  Hundred  and  First  was  engaged  in 
demonstrations  against  the  enemy.  Next 
morning,  the  battle  of  Stone  River  began 
in  earnest.  When  Col.  Stem’s  regiment 
began  to  waver,  he  called  out : “Stand  by 
the  flag  now,  for  the  good  old  State  of 
Ohio!”  and  instantly  fell,  fatally  wounded. 

Lieut.  Col.  Jonas  ,D.  Elliotf  held  his  po- 
sition in  May,  1863.  During  the  summer 
of  1864,  he  commanded  the  left  wing  of 
the  regiment  at  Dodsonville,  Ala. ; in  Sep- 
tember, he  was  sent  after  Wheeler,  and 
was  ordered  into  camp  at  Decatur.  On 
the  23rd  he  was  dispatched  to  Athens,  to 
participate  in  the  attack  of  Gen.  Forrest 
of  the  rebels.  Col.  Elliott  was  sent  out 
with  300  men,  and  being  surrounded  by 
Gen.  Forrest,  with  vastly  superior  num- 
bers, a forced  resistance  enabled  them  to 
sustain  their  own  ground,  until  a fresh 
brigade  of  rebels  arrived,  under  Gen.  War- 
ren. This  officer  instructed  one  of  his  men 
to  shoot  Lieut.  Col.  Elliott,  and  a moment 
later  he  fell.  He  lingered  nineteen  days. 

Col.  Joseph  L.  Kirby  Smith  took  com- 
mand of  the  Forty-third  Ohio  Regiment. 
He  fell  at  the  battle  of  Corinth,  under 
Rosecranz. 

Lieut.  Col.  James  W.  Shane  fell,  June 
27,  1864,  in  an  assault  upon  the  enemy's 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


*» 

works  at  Kenesaw.  He  Survived  but  forty 
minutes. 

Col.  Augustus  H.  Coleman  displayed  the 
abilities  of  a successful  commander.  He 
was  in  the  first  charge  on  the  bridge 
across  Antietam  Creek.  He  was  fatally 
wounded.  His  last  words  were  inquiries 
regarding  his  men. 

Col.  J.  W.  Lowe  commanded  the  Twelfth 
Ohio,  and  was  ordered  to  assist  the  Tenth 
in  the  battle  of  Carnefix  Ferry.  Cheering 
his  men,  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  a 
rifle  ball  pierced  his  forehead,  and  he  fell 
dead — the  first  field  officer  from  Ohio 
killed  in  battle  in  the  war  for  the  Union. 

Lieut.  Col.  Moses  F.  Wooster  was  en- 
gaged with  his  regiment,  the  One  Hundred 
and  First  Ohio,  at  Perryville.  He  was 
mortally  wounded  on  the  31st  of  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  in  the  grand  effort  to  stem  the 
tide  of  defeat  at  Stone  River. 

The  list  of  staff  officers  we  refrain  from 
giving  through  lack  of  space. 

At  the  opening  of  the  war,  William  Den- 
nison was  Governor  of  Ohio,  David  Tod 
succeeded  him.  John  Brough  was  the 
third  War  Governor. 

Secretary  Edwin  M.  Stanton  was  one 
of  the  most  popular  war  ministers.  He 
was  born  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  in  1815. 


He  was  engaged  in  the  United  States  Cir- 
cuit Court  in  1860,  in  a leading  law  suit, 
at  Cincinnati,  known  as  the  Manny  and 
McCormick  reaper  trial.  On  the  20th  of 
January,  1862,  he  was  appointed  Secretary 
of  War  by  Mr.  Lincoln. 

Ex-Secretary  Salmon  P.  Chase's  public 
service  in  Ohio  have  already  been  men- 
tioned in  these  pages.  In  1861,  he  was 
appointed  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  cabinet. 

United  States  Senator  B.  F.  Wade  made 
his  reputation  in  Ohio.  This  Senator  of 
the  State  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  the  Conduct  of  the  War  throughout 
its  duration. 

United  States  Senator  John  Sherman 
was  a leading  member  of  the  Finance 
Committee  during  the  war.  For  some 
time  he  was  its  chairman. 

Jay  Cooke  was  the  financial  agent  of  the 
government,  furnishing  money  for  the 
payment  of  troops.  He  was  born  in  Port- 
land, Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  our  brief  review  of  the  war  record  of 
Ohio,  we  have  omitted  a vast  amount  of 
detail  information  that  would  prove  inter- 
esting to  our  readers.  We  believe  we  have 
been  accurate  in  whatever  we  have  given, 
taking  as  our  authority  that  accepted  “En- 
cyclopaedic” of  Ohio  war  facts. 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIE  WAR 


229 


Columbus,  0.,  April  27,  1917. 

Mr.  A.  M.  Sterrett, 

Troy,  0 
My  dear  Sir: 

I have  received  your  letter  of  the  26th  relating  to 
bhe  cut.  Replying  have  to  say  that  I have  a out  at  the 
printer's  and  if  you  could  use  it  and  send  it  right  baok 
in  a.  short  time,  l would  be  pleased  to  let  you  have  it. 

As  you  are  perhaps  aware,  there  was  one  company  in 
my  regiment,  in  the  First  Ohio  Cavalry  recruited  in  Miami 
County.  Three  of  these  boys  have  died  recently  - Nathan 
Teeter,  a Mr.  Patty  at  Pleasant  Hill,  and  a German  by  the 
name,  of  Joseph  Sneider  of  Piqua,  0.  * f 

If .you  would  care  to  have  it,  I could  give  you  a 
little  story  about  being  tafcen  prisoner  when  the  hat  was 
shot  and  ray  experiences  as  a prisoner. 

When  you  are  ready  to  print,  advise  me  and  I will 

r 

have  the  cut  forwarded  to  you. 


Box  645 


220 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


AN  INTERESTING  CIVIL  WAR  STORY  FROM  AN  OHIO  CAPTAIN 
OF  CAVALRY  WITH  HIS  LETTER  TO  THE  AUTHOR 
-TAKEN  PRISONER  AT  COURTLAND,  ALA. 

By  IV.  L.  Curry,  Captain  First  Ohio  Cavalry 


I was  taken  prisoner  July  25,  1862,  at 
Courtland,  Alabama,  and  I always  cele- 
brate this  anniversary  as  the  day  of  de- 
liverance, as  I had  a hair-breadth  escape 
from  instant  death.  In  fact  my  hair  did 
not  escape,  as  a minnie  ball  went  through 
my  hat,  cutting  the  cross  sabers  on  the 
front  of  the  hat  in  two,  making  a hole 
through  the  hat  crown  six  inches  long,  and 
cutting  the  hair  from  my  head  down  to  the 
scalp  so  that  I pulled  out  a handful  of 
hair  from  my  head. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  Miss., 
on  the  night  of  May  28,  1862,  General 
Buell’s  army  was  scattered  along  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad  from 
Corinth  east  to  Huntsville,  Ala.  My  com- 
pany, K and  company  E of  the  same  regi- 
ment, First  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  two  com- 
panies of  the  Tenth  Kentucky  Infantry, 


were  stationed  at  Courtland,  Ala.,  guard- 
ing a railroad  bridge. 

Courtland  was  a beautiful  town,  situated 
about  midway  between  Tuscumbia  and 
Decatur, Ala.,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
each,  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad.  It  was  a lazy  little  town  of 
fifteen  hundred  to  two  thousand  inhabi- 
tants, noted  for  the  beautiful  shade  trees 
that  lined  the  streets,  and  pretty  southern 
girls,  who  would  insist  on  making  mashes 
on  the  dashing  cavalry  boys,  in  defiance 
of  their  protests  that  they  must  continue 
true  and  loyal  to  the  “Girl  They  Left  Be- 
hind Them”  among  the  hills  and  valleys  of 
the  “Bonnie  Buckeye  State.” 

The  duty  of  the  detachment  was  guard- 
ing the  railroad  bridges  and  pickets  were 
thrown  out  on  all  of  the  roads,  about  a 
mile  from  camp,  to  guard  against  a sur- 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


231 


prise  from  the  enemy’s  cavalry,  who  were 
making  frequent  dashes  against  these 
small  detachments. 

Our  camp  was  on  the  plantation  of  an 
old  fellow  by  the  name  of  Bynam,  who 
professed  to  be  intensely  loyal  to  the  old 
flag,  and  his  cornfield  along  one  side  of 
our  camp,  just  in  good  roasting  ears,  was 
carefully  guarded,  and  a soldier  that  even 
plucked  one  ear  had  the  guard-house  star- 
ing him  in  the  face  and  visions  of  extra 
duty  policing  the  quarters  with  a pine- 
brush broom. 

On  the  morning  of  July  25th,  after 
guard  mount,  the  weather  being  very 
warm,  the  men  were  scattered  over  the 
camp,  taking  it  quiet  and  easy  and  many 
of  them  sitting  in  the  shade  in  front  of 
their  tents,  or  on  the  piles  of  forage  sacks, 
having  a game  of  old  sledge  or  poker  with 
a ten  cent  ante,  while  others  were  writing 
letters  to  the  dear  ones  at  home,  or  to  their 
best  girls,  which  was  more  often  the  case, 
little  dreaming  that  the  enemy  in  large 
force  was  rapidly  marching  and  prepar- 
ing to  pounce  down  upon  our  little  handful 
of  men  like  a hurricane. 

Lieutenant  James  Cutler,  being  a physi- 
cian, had  charge  of  the  sick  at  the  post, 
and  had  established  a temporary  hospital 
over  in  the  town  in  a brick  church,  and  he 
was  making  his  usual  morning  visit  to  the 
sick,  and  I,  being  next  in  rank,  had  com- 
mand of  the  company.  Just  as  I had  set- 
tled down  on  my  cot  for  a little  rest,  as  I 
was  sick  with  malaria  and  camp  fever, 
Captain  Eggleston,  commanding  Com- 
pany E,  came  running  to  my  tent  in  his 
shirt  sleeves  and  bare  head  and  shouted 
to  me  that  the  rebels  were  advancing  upon 
our  camp.  I called  to  the  bugler  to  sound 
“boots  and  saddles”  and  ran  down 
through  the  quarters,  directing  the  men 
to  saddle  their  horses  and  mount  as  rap- 
idly as  possible. 

Looking  across  the  camp  and  toward 
old  Bynam’s  house,  I saw  a cloud  of  dust 
raising  and  in  five  minutes’  time  the  ad- 
vance of  the  rebel  column  came  down  the 


road,  within  three  hundred  yards  of  our 
camp,  and  gave  the  rebel  yell  that  would 
have  raised  the  hair  on  the  head  of  a 
Comanche  Indian. 

I had  loaned  my  horse  Billy  that  morn- 
ing to  Sergeant  Chapin  to  go  out  on 
picket,  and  I made  up  my  mind  with  but 
little  deliberation,  and  in  a moment’s  time 
that  I was  in  for  it  and  would  be  taken 
prisoner  right  in  the  camp;  but  after  the 
company  had  all  saddled  and  were  in  line, 
I saw  one  horse  still  at  the  picket  rope, 
that  I knew  belonged  to  William  Johnson, 
who  had  gone  into  town  to  shoe  horses, 
and  I ran  down  to  line,  saddled  and 
bridled  this  horse,  and  by  this  time  the 
rebels  were  in  camp,  banging  away  in  a 
very  careless  manner. 

Just  as  I had  buckled  on  my  saber  and 
revolver,  Lieutenant  Cutler  came  dashing 
into  camp  from  town,  and  I ran  into  his 
tent,  got  his  belt  and  saber  and  handed  it 
to  him  and  mounted.  By  this  time  the 
rebels  were  right  upon  us  and  we  were  the 
only  two  left  and  the  enemy  had  cut  us 
off  from  our  command,  which  was  form- 
ing with  the  infantry  behind  the  railroad 
embankment. 

A high  railroad  embankment  lay  be- 
tween the  camp  and  town,  and  two  other 
soldiers  who  had  been  cut  off  from  the 
command,  having  joined  us  at  the  ford,  I 
suggested  that  we  reconnoiter  toward 
town  to  see  if  we  were  surrounded  and 
then  report  to  the  commanding  officer. 
Spurring  our  horses  over  the  embankment 
we  run  right  into  a regiment  of  rebels 
galloping  along  the  street  close  to  the  em- 
bankments and  hidden  from  view,  and  we 
were  prisoners  in  less  time  than  it  takes 
to  tell  the  story. 

We  were  run  off  to  the  side  of  the  street 
on  the  pavement  and  surrendered  our 
horses  and  arms  as  gracefully  as  could  be 
expected  under  the  excitement  and  con- 
fusion, as  the  advance  had  fired  a volley 
when  they  first  hailed  us  and  the  balls 
whizzed  uncomfortably  near  our  heads. 
After  we  had  surrendered,  a guard  was 


232 


HISTORY  OF  MIAHI  COUNTY 


put  over  us  and  we  were  watching  the 
rebel  cavalry  as  they  charged  down  the 
street  in  platoons.  It  was  a very  pretty 
sight  from  the  pavement.  Just  at  this 
moment  a rebel  soldier  wheeled  his  horse 
out  of  the  ranks  not  more  than  three  rods 
from  us  raised  his  cabrine  and  banged 
away  at  us  three  prisoners  and  fired  three 
shots  in  quick  succession  as  we  stood 
quietly  looking  him  in  the  face,  expecting 
each  shot  to  kill  one  of  us. 

As  before  stated  the  third  shot  went 
through  my  hat  and  stunned  and  blinded 
me  for  a moment,  and  I reeled  and 
grasped  the  fence  for  support.  I was  so 
dazed  that  I was  confident  that  I was  shot 
and  putting  my  head  down  toward  one  of 
the  boys,  I asked  him  where  I was 
wounded,  and  taking  off  my  hat  and  seeing 
that  there  was  a bullet  hole  in  front  and 
that  there  was  a hole  in  the  crown  at  least 
six  inches  long,  I became  more  and  more 
impressed  with  the  belief  that  the  ball  had 
gone  through  my  head.  Of  course  it  was 
preposterous  to  even  imagine  that  a ball 
could  go  through  the  head  without  causing 
instant  death;  but  in  my  dazed  condition 
my  reasoning  faculties  were  rather 
“knocked  out  of  working  order.” 

I put  my  hand  upon  the  top  of  my  head 
and  pulled  out  a handful  of  hair  and  wool 
from  my  hat  ground  as  fine  as  powder, 
and  kept  on  pulling  out  the  loose  hair  and 
feeling  the  top  of  my  head  and  looking  at 
my  fingers  to  see  if  I could  discover  any 
blood,  and  continued  this  for  a moment  or 
two  until  I recovered  from  the  shock,  be- 
fore I was  convinced  that  I was  not 
wounded. 

It  was  a hair-breadth  escape,  and  had 
the  ball  struck  an  eighth  of  an  inch  lower 
it  would  have  blown  the  whole  top  of  my 
head  off  and  I would  have  been  killed  so 
suddenly  that  I would  not  have  known 
what  hurt  me. 

I was  not  frightened  during  the  time 
the  rebel  was  firing  the  shots  and  did  not 
attempt  to  dodge  down  or  run,  but  stood 
still  and  looked  at  him  very  intently  as  he 


pulled  the  trigger  of  his  carbine,  but  fully 
convinced  that  he  would  kill  all  three  of 
us.  I thought  very  fast  and  wished  that 
we  had  our  navy  revolvers  again  that  we 
had  surrendered  a few  minutes  before, 
and  we  would  have  fought  it  out  as  long 
as  we  had  a load  in  our  revolvers. 

The  fellow  made  such  an  impression  on 
me  as  he  sat  on  his  sorrel  Texas  pony  in 
his  shirt  sleeves,  with  brown  beard  and 
long  yellow  hair,  and  a broad-rimmed, 
brown-colored  slouch  hat  on  his  head,  that 
I have  never  forgotten  his  face,  and  I 
think  I would  know  him  today  if  I should 
meet  him,  if  he  looked  as  he  did  then,  al- 
though our  meeting  fifty-five  years  ago 
was  very  brief  and  rather  abrupt. 

Until  this  day,  if  I hear  the  report  of 
a musket  near  at  hand,  I imagine  that  I 
can  feel  that  ball  passing  through  my  hat 
and  hair  exactly  the  same  direction  that 
that  ball  plowed  a track  so  near  my  skull 
the  day  I was  captured. 

No  doubt  there  are  thousands  of  other 
similar  incidents  that  happened  during 
the  war,  and  only  relate  this  as  one  in 
which  it  was  my  fortune  to  play  a part  as 
principal  actor. 

The  rebel  cavalry  was  still  charging 
along  the  street,  and  there  sat  that  long 
yellow-haired  cuss  on  his  sorrel  pony,  with 
murder  in  his  eye  and  his  carbine  thrown 
across  the  pommel  of  his  saddle,  as  if  tak- 
ing a rest  before  commencing  another 
fusillade  on  three  dangerous  unarmed 
Yankee  prisoners.  Just  at  this  moment 
a rebel  officer  was  galloping  slowly  along 
near  the  pavement,  reining  his  horse  in, 
as  if  to  close  up  his  company,  I appealed 
to  him,  stating  that  we  were  prisoners, 
that  we  had  surrendered  our  arms  and 
that  we  were  entitled  to  protection,  and, 
pointing  to  the  long-haired  sinner  still  sit- 
ting on  his  sorrel  pony,  informed  the  offi- 
cer that  he  had  been  practicing  on  us  $t 
short  range  and  in  my  opinion  was  getting 
ready  for  another  engagement.  This  offi- 
cer ordered  the  fellow  to  join  his  com- 
mand, much  to  our  relief,  and  then  or- 


OHIO  IN  TH*  CIVIL  WAR 


2)3 


dered  the  guard  to  start  us  to  the  rear  on 
double-quick. 

Now  the  “fight  was  on”  and  the  balls 
from  our  own  command  stationed  behind 
the  railroad  embankment,  began  to  come 
over,  rattling  against  the  houses  and 
fences  and  knocking  up  the  dust  in  the 
streets  like  big  drops  of  rain.  While  it 
was  not  a very  comfortable  situation  for 
us  to  be  placed  in  between  two  fires— still 
it  was  amusing  to  see  how  quickly  the 
citizens  scattered  and  vanished  into  their 
houses,  and  in  a few  minutes  we  had  the 
streets  all  to  ourselves. 

The  guards  hurried  us  along  on  the 
double-quick,  for  they  seemed  as  anxious 
to  get  out  of  the  range  of  the  flying  bullets 
as  we  were.  I had  on  a pair  of  high  cav- 
alry boots  that  came  above  my  knees,  with 
a pair  of  spurs,  and  being  a cavalryman, 
we  had  been  drilled  to  believe  that  it  was 
very  humiliating  for  a trooper  to  be  com- 
pelled to  march  on  foot. 

The  guard  that  was  looking  after  my 
welfare  was  of  the  same  opinion  and  as 
there  were  several  riderless  horses  run- 
ning loose  on  the  common,  the  riders  hav- 
ing been  killed  or  wounded  or  in  some 
manner  thrown  from  their  horses,  the 
guard  caught  a fine  gray,  which  he  di- 
rected me  to  mount  in  “one  time  and  two 
motions.”  Not  waiting  for  a second  invi- 
tation, I mounted  in  hot  haste.  He  proved 
to  be  an  officer's  horse,  well  equipped  with 
two  revolvers  in  the  holsters  fully  loaded 
and  my  first  thoughts  were  that  if  we  had 
found  those  revolvers  a few  minutes  soon- 
er, we  would  have  made  it  lively  for  our 
long-haired  friend  on  the  sorrel  pony. 

By  this  time  many  stragglers  were  gal- 
loping to  the  rear  to  get  out  of  danger, 
which  is  a very  usual  occurrence  during 
a fight,  and  a person  to  be  in  the  rear  of 
a battle  line  and  see  the  cowards  retreat- 
ing and  the  confusion  and  demoralization 
would  imagine  that  the  whole  army  was 
retreating;  but  when  you  arrive  at  the 
front  you  find  that  the  line  is  steady  and 
everything  well  in  hand,  and  the  fighting 


soldiers  are  under  as  complete  control  as 
if  on  battalion  drill. 

After  going  pell-mell  for  perhaps  a dis- 
tance of  two  miles,  we  halted  on  a by-road 
and  we  could  still  hear  a few  scattering 
shots  off  toward  our  camp.  As  we  sat  on 
our  horses,  there  now  being  five  of  us 
prisoners,  with  perhaps  a hundred  guards, 
a big  rebel  Sergeant  rode  up  to  our  group, 
and,  taking  a look  at  the  horse  I was  rid- 
ing, he  then  asked  me  where  I got  that 
horse,  and  I informed  him  that  the  guard 
had  caught  him  for  me.  He  then  took  out 
a big  navy  revolver,  and  riding  up  close 
to  my  side  said:  “That  is  my  brother's 
horse,  and  if  he  is  killed,  that  is  what  you 
will  get,”  and  he  placed  the  muzzle  of  the 
revolver  against  my  head,  just  back  of  my 
ear.  I then  thought  we  were  in  for  it,  as 
he  was  a long-haired  devilish-looking  fel- 
low; but  I think  if  he  had  made  the  at- 
tempt the  guard  that  had  me  in  charge 
would  have  interfered,  as  he  was  a fine 
manly-looking  young  soldier  and  was  very 
kind  to  me  afterward  and  during  the  few 
days  he  was  with  us,  and  when  he  could 
get  anything  to  eat  he  divided  it  with  me, 
if  I could  eat  anything. 

After  our  little  episode  with  the  big  Ser- 
geant, who  was  anxious  to  distinguish 
himself  by  blowing  the  heads  off  a few 
unarmed  prisoners,  instead  of  being  up  at 
the  front  with  his  command.  We  started 
on  a by-road  through  the  woods  and  hills, 
and  after  traveling  two  or  three  miles 
came  out  on  the  Tupelo  road  leading  to 
General  Bragg's  headquarters.  After 
waiting  here  a short  time,  the  balance  of 
the  prisoners  were  brought  up  and  there 
were  now  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  of 
us.  We  were  then  put  under  a regular 
guard,  commanded  by  Major  Smith,  of 
Missouri,  who  proved  to  be  a gentleman 
and  a good  soldier,  and  the  prisoners  were 
then  protected  from  insult.  We  learned 
that  the  big  Sergeant's  brother,  who  was 
a Lieutenant,  had  been  killed  in  the  early 
part  of  the  fight,  and  had  the  Sergeant 
known  this  at  the  time  he  found  me  on  his 


234 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


brother’s  horse,  I have  no  doubt  but  he 
would  have  executed  his  threat  and  have 
killed  all  of  us  on  the  spot,  but  it  was  too 
late  when  we  were  put  under  a regular 
guard. 

The  command  that  had  attacked  us  was 
General  Armstrong’s  brigade  of  cavalry, 
consisting  of  about  seventeen  hundred 
men,  and  including  Colonel  Roddy’s  regi- 
ment, that  had  been  recruited  in  Northern 
Alabama  in  and  around  Courtland,  Tus- 
cumbia  and  Decatur. 

General  Armstrong  was  an  officer  of  the 
old  army  and  a fine-looking  soldier,  and 
became  quite  a noted  cavalry  leader  dur- 
ing the  war.  The  rebel  commander  at- 
tacked our  camp  on  three  sides  simulta- 
neously and  he  had  been  piloted  through 
woods  and  mountains  on  by-roads  by  citi- 
zens of  the  vicinity,  who  knew  every  cow- 
path  in  the  country,  and  knew  the  position 
of  every  picket,  as  they  passed  in  and  out 
of  camp  at  will.  The  total  number  of  men 
in  our  command  in  the  two  companies  of 
infantry  and  the  two  companies  of  cavalry 
was  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  and 
when  they  took  position  behind  the  rail- 
road embankment,  they  made  it  lively  for 
the  rebel  brigade  for  a short  time  and  in 
the  fight  the  rebels  lost  seventeen  killed 
and  twenty-seven  wounded. 

The  first  day  we  marched  to  Moulton, 
Ala.,  the  county  seat  of  Lawrence  county, 
a distance  of  about  thirty  miles  and  were 
quartered  in  the  court  house,  sleeping  on 
the  soft  side  of  a bench  in  this  magnificent 
temple  of  justice.  We  lingered  here  the 
next  day  until  late  in  the  evening,  when  all 
at  once  there  was  a great  commotion 
among  the  rebels,  the  guards  rushed  from 
the  court-house,  the  bugles  sounded  “boots 
and  saddles,”  drivers  commenced  harness- 
ing their  mules  and  orderlies  were  gal- 
loping through  the  streets.  We  surmised 
that  something  unusual  had  occurred  on 
the  outposts,  and  it  was  soon  learned  that 
a scouting  party  of  our  cavalry  had  at- 
tacked their  pickets  and  we  were  in  high 
glee  hoping  that  we  would  soon  be  within 


our  own  lines  again,  but  the  rebel  com- 
mander did  not  propose  to  be  so  easily 
cheated  out  of  his  prize  and  he  directed 
that  the  prisoners  be  started  south  on  the 
Tupelo  road  toward  General  Bragg’s 
headquarters  on  “double-quick.” 

General  Armstrong  mounted  his  magni- 
ficent horse,  that  had  just  been  brought  up 
to  him  by  his  colored  servant,  and  gal- 
loped off  in  the  direction  of  the  firing. 
Our  officers  were  directed  to  get  into  the 
wagons  and  a mounted  guard  was  placed 
around  the  balance  of  us  and  we  were  hur- 
ried off  south  on  double-quick.  With  sev- 
eral other  sick  soldiers  I strained  every 
nerve  to  keep  up  at  the  front,  and  when 
darkness  came  on,  a file  of  guards  were 
placed  on  either  side  of  our  column,  in  ad- 
dition to  the_platoons  in  front  and  rear, 
and  the  guards  were  ordered  by  the  Cap- 
tain commanding  to  “draw  saber  and  cut 
down  any  prisoner  who  fell  out  under  any 
pretense  whatever.”  The  horses  of  the 
mounted  guard  were  kept  on  a brisk  walk 
all  the  time  and  this  kept  us  on  about  a 
half  run,  and  after  marching  in  this  man- 
ner from  about  5 p.  m.  until  10  p.  m.  with- 
out a moment’s  halt  and  without  a drop 
of  water  on  a hot  July  night  in  Alabama 
was  enough  to  prostrate  the  strongest  sol- 
dier. About  midnight  a courier  came 
dashing  up  from  the  rear  with  a message, 
and  the  officer  in  command  called  a halt. 
We  were  then  just  in  front  of  a planta- 
tion residence,  and  I remember  that  there 
was  a wagon  just  at  the  side  of  the  road, 
loaded  with  long  wood,  and  the  Captain 
commanding  mounted  this  wagon  and 
made  a speech  to  the  guard  and  stated 
that  he  “had  the  pleasure  of  announcing 
that  they  had  gained  a great  victory  at 
Spangler’s  Mills.”  At  this  the  guard 
cheered,  but  it  was  not  a very  cheerful 
message  for  us  prisoners.  We  afterwards 
learned  that  it  was  a little  skirmish  be- 
tween a scouting  party  of  our  soldiers  and 
the  rebel  pickets  in  which  two  or  three 
men  were  wounded. 

We  were  then  ordered  to  lay  down  on 


OHIO  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


235 


the  chip  pile,  on  which  we  were  standing, 
and  we  did  not  need  a second  invitation,  as 
we  were  completely  exhausted  and  ready 
to  fall  in  our  tracks.  Sergeant  Chears  and 
myself  had  about  half  of  a rubber  blan- 
ket that  one  of  us  had  picked  up,  and 
finding  a stick  of  wood  for  a pillow,  we 
tumbled  down  on  the  ground  and  covered 
our  breasts  with  this  piece  of  rubber  blan- 
ket. Our  clothing  was  dripping  wet  with 
perspiration  and  as  soon  as  we  halted  we 
began  to  feel  the  chill  of  the  cold  moun- 
tain night  air,  but  from  sheer  exhaustion 
we  slept  from  midnight  until  daybreak. 
We  had  been  living  on  very  short  rations 
of  hard  tack  and  a little  fat  pork  since  we 
were  captured,  and  on  this  Sunday  morn- 
ing we  had  green  corn  boiled  and  eaten 
without  either  salt  or  pepper,  bread, 
crackers  or  meat,  and  in  fact  all  we  had 
for  three  or  four  days  was  boiled  green 
corn,  without  anything  else.  We  would 
halt  at  a plantation  and  a guard  would 
direct  the  slaves  to  bring  out  some  big  iron 
wash-kettles  and  fill  them  with  water  and 
then  pull  off  some  green  corn  and  throw 
it  over  to  us,  husk  and  all.  The  boys 
would  husk  the  corn,  tramp  around  on  the 
husks  and  squeal  like  a lot  of  pigs,  laugh 
and  joke,  and  try  to  make  the  best  of  it; 
but  after  three  or  four  days  boiled  corn, 
without  anything  else  and  without  any 
seasoning  became  a little  monotonous. 
Like  the  fellow  with  the  codfish,  we  rel- 
ished it  three  times  a day,  but  did  not 
care  to  have  it  for  a regular  diet. 


On  Sunday,  the  citizens  were  out  to  see 
us  in  force  as  we  marched  through  the 
country,  and  as  our  coming  had  been  her- 
alded by  the  rebel  cavalry  scouting 
through  the  country,  at  every  crossroad 
we  would  find  carriages  filled  with  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  waiting  to  get  their  first 
look  at  a live  Yankee  prisoner.  Some  of 
the  boys  would  ask  a great  many  silly 
questions  of  these  citizens  and  furnished 
amusement,  not  only  to  our  boys,  but  to 
our  guard. 

A little  fat  pork  was  issued  to  us  during 
the  day  and  as  we  had  no  haversacks  we 
had  to  carry  the  meat  in  our  hands  or 
run  a little  stick  through  it  and  as  the 
weather  was  very  hot,  the  grease  dropped 
out  as  we  marched  along.  We  were  a 
motley  looking  crowd,  some  being  bare- 
headed, while  others  were  in  their  shirt 
sleeves  and  bare  feet.  We  did  not  present 
a very  soldierly  appearance  and  no  doubt 
the  citizens  thought  us  a genuine  lot  of 
mud-sills  and  “five  to  one,"  was  only  a 
breakfast  spell  for  the  chivalry. 

We  did  not  reach  General  Bragg’s 
headquarters  at  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  but 
were  marched  around  through  northern 
Alabama  quartered  in  old  camps  and  court 
houses. 

As  was  understood  at  the  time  they 
could  not  get  safe  conduct  for  the  pris- 
oners to  Libby  Prison  and  we  were  finally 
paroled  and  sent  to  parole  camps  for  ex- 
change. 


OHIO  IN  THE  SPANISH -AMERICAN  WAR 


On  February  the  15th,  1898,  the  battle- 
ship Maine  was  blown  up  while  peacefully 
anchored  in  the  harbor  of  Havana  by  a 
submarine  mine  placed  there  by  parties 
probably  authorized  by  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment. The  splendid  warship  was  to- 


tally destroyed  with  the  loss  of  260  officers 
and  men.  Congress  immediately  appro- 
priated $50,000,000  for  national  defense. 
The  war  lasted  for  114  days,  Ohio  fur- 
nished 15,354  men,  none  of  whom  were 
in  action. 


CHAPTER  XV 


THE  GERMAN-AMERICAN  WAR 


As  long  as  Russia  believed  she  had  an 
inalienable  right  to  a free  and  untram- 
melled access  and  egress  to  the  straits  of 
the  Dardanelles  and  Turkey  refused  her 
that  right;  as  long  as  Italy  believed  she 
had  been  robbed  by  Austria  of  Trieste  and 
others  of  her  northern  provinces ; as  long 
as  France  believed  she  had  been  robbed  by 
Germany  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine ; as  long 
as  England  believed  that  the  integrity  of 
Belgium  was  essential  to  her  safety;  as 
long  as  Japan  continued  jealous  of  Ger- 
many's acquisition  of  Chinese  territory ; as 
long  as  all  Europe  stood  in  alarm  at  the 
ponderous  militarism  of  Germany;  it  was 
not  difficult  to  find  an  excuse  for  facing 
the  frowning  front  of  war. 

The  assassination  of  Prince  Ferdinand 
of  Austria  and  his  consort  by  a Servian 
agitator;  the  demand  of  Austria  to  sit  as 
judges  in  the  trial  of  the  murderer,  and 
while  Servia  submitted  to  all  other  de- 
mands, reserving  only  her  right,  to  try  the 
malefactor,  the  lines  were  drawn  and  the 
bloodiest  war  of  history  was  on. 

That  the  forts  on  the  frontier  of  Bel- 
gium, believed  to  be  impregnable,  fell  be- 
fore the  enormous  guns  of  Germany, 
opened  the  road  to  Paris,  its  capture  and 
possible  destruction  and  the  world  doomed 
to  a militarism  beyond  the  dreams  of  Na- 
poleon and  Germany  placed  in  a position 
of  world  domination  is  due  to  the  fortunate 
outcome  of  the  battle  of  the  Marne. 

The  final  alignment  of  England,  France, 
Russia,  Japan,  Italy,  Servia,  Albania, 
[236] 


Roumania,  and  Belgium  with  the  entente 
powers,  and  Germany,  Austria,  Turkey 
and  Bulgaria  with  the  central  powers,  with 
20,000,000  of  men  on  both  sides,  staggered 
the  senses,  with  the  enormity  of  its  possi- 
ble and  almost  inevitable  consequences. 

I delivered  a lecture  on  “Preparedness," 
in  the  auditorium  of  the  high  school  in 
Troy  and  Sidney  in  September,  1915,  en- 
deavoring to  do  my  bit  in  arousing  public 
sentiment  to  the  danger  of  the  United 
States  continuing  a state  of  supineness,  in 
which  I quoted  the  serious  statement  of  ex- 
President  Roosevelt,  that  he  had  seen  the 
plans  of  two  first-class  foreign  powers  for 
the  conquest  of  the  United  States. 

In  this  work,  I was  aided  by  the  War 
Department  and  A.  P.  Gardner  of  the 
ways  and  means  committee  of  the  house, 
to  the  end  that  I might  say  such  things  as 
could  be  officially  sanctioned.  I herewith 
append  two  letters,  which  will  tend  to 
show  that  “Pacifism"  was  not  then  in- 
dulged in  by  those  who  had  the  best  op- 
portunity of  ascertaining  our  real  state 
of  unpreparedness: 

WAR  DEPARTMENT 
Washington 

July  10,  1915. 

Hon.  F.  M.  Sterrett, 

Troy,  Ohio. 

Dear  Sir: 

The  statement  attributed  to  General 
Weaver,  namely:  “the  greatest  range  of 
existing  American  coast  defense  guns  is 


THE  GERMAN -AMERICAN  WAR 


237 


18,500  yards,  while  the  guns  of  the  big- 
gest British  and  German  battleships  have 
a range  of  21,000  yards,”  was  a correct 
statement  of  the  conditions  existing  at  the 
time  referred  to.  It  was  not,  however, 
made  by  General  Weaver  in  his  written 
report. 

It  may  be  said  that  modifications  which 
are  now  being  made  in  our  12”  guns  and 
carriages  will  give  them  a range  of  19,500 
to  22,000  yards. 

It  is  not  known  whether  General  Goeth- 
als  is  on  record  as  saying  that  our  coast 
defense  guns  have  a greater  range  than 
the  Queen  Elizabeth  of  the  British  Navy. 

It  is  considered  that  the  fortifications 
now  provided  for  the  Panama  Canal  give  a 
reasonably  adequate  coast  artillery  defense 
for  that  locality,  but  it  is  not  to  be  taken 
as  indicating  that  additional  defense  may 
not  be  added  in  the  future. 

It  is  desired  to  encourage  such  patriotic 
efforts  as  it  appears  you  are  making  to  in- 
form the  public  of  the  exact  conditions 
affecting  our  military  preparedness. 

Respectfully, 

HENRY  BRECKENRIDGE, 
Acting  Secretary  of  War. 

The  war  of  1812  was  brought  about 
fortunately  for  us  at  a time  when  we  were 
less  than  15,000,000  of  people  by  the 
search  and  detention  of  American  vessels 
on  the  high  seas  and  imprisonment  of  our 
sailors  into  the  British  service  and  when 
England  and  most  of  Europe  was  engaged 
in  a death  struggle  with  the  great 
Napoleon. 

Germany  has  not  only  searched  and  de- 
tained our  vessels  and  confiscated  our 
property,  but  she  has  blown  our  vessels  out 
of  the  sea  with  a reckless  barbarism  for 
human  life,  that  appeals  to  every  sense  of 
our  civilization. 

Her  cold  blooded  proposition,  while  pro- 
fessing a high  Christian  culture  to  re- 
mand Texas  and  her  bordering  states  back 
to  the  domination  of  priest  ridden,  revolu- 
tionary Mexico  and  our  Pacfic  states  to  a 


nation  of  Oriental  Buddhists,  through  an 
intrigue  of  diplomacy  at  a time  when  she 
was  the  recipient  of  hospitality  at  our 
hands,  was  heaping  up  indignities  that 
no  self-respecting  nation  could  longer  en- 
dure. 

If  the  men  of  military  age  in  Texas 
should  arm  themselves  to  repel  this  unholy 
combination  of  Orientalists,  revolutionists 
and  so-called  cultured  Christians,  many 
of  which  Texans  are  lineal  descendants  of 
Crockett,  Bowie  and  Travis  and  the  others 
of  that  heroic  band  who  perished  in  the 
Alamo,  it  need  not  alarm  the  pacifist  any 
more,  than  when  the  pioneer  hangs  his 
rifle  above  his  cabin  door,  with  which  to 
protect  his  women  and  children  from  ever 
present  savage  attack. 

COMMITTEE  ON  WAYS  AND  MEANS 
House  of  Representatives 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Hamilton,  Mass.,  July  21,  1915. 

Hon.  F.  M.  Sterrett, 

My  Dear  Sir: 

I am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  July 
16th,  1915.  I saw  Gen.  Goethals  quoted 
as  saying  that  the  range  of  some  of  our 
coast  defense  guns  was  greater  than  those 
of  the  Queen  Elizabeth.  Whether  he  said 
it  or  not,  it  is  not  the  fact.  The  enclosed 
letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  tells  the 
story.  Please  return  it  in  envelope  en- 
closed (no  stamps  needed). 

If  you  will  read  my  speech  entitled 
“Guard  your  Coast”  you  will  get  an  ex- 
planation of  the  situation.  Also,  I refer 
you  to  Pages  17-18  of  my  “Manual”;  like- 
wise, the  passage  which  I have  marked  on 
Page  21  of  the  Manual.  As  you  will  ob- 
serve this  last  passage  is  part  of  the 
Report  made  last  November  by  Gen. 
Witherspoon,  Chief  of  Staff  of  U.  S.  Army. 

As  to  the  strength  of  our  Panama  Canal 
Fortifications;  when  all  the  14  inch  guns 
are  mounted,  and  the  proposed  16  inch  gun 
is  in  place,  I think  it  probable  that  no  one 
will  care  to  attack  the  Canal  at  either  en- 


238 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


trance.  The  danger  comes  from  an  at- 
tack by  land.  The  best  statement  that  I 
have  seen  on  the  subject  was  written  by 
Mr.  Charles  P.  Steinmetz,  the  distin- 
guished engineer,  whose  name  is  mentioned 
for  one  of  the  places  in  Secretary  Daniel’s 
new  Board.  I am  writing  him  for  a copy 
of  that  article,  which  I shall  be  glad  to 
send  to  you.  Incidentally,  I call  attention 
to  the  evidence  of  Admiral  Bradley  A. 
Fiske,  Chief  of  Operations  of  the  Fleet  be- 
fore the  House  Committee  on  Naval  Af- 
fairs, December  17,  1914,  on  Page  1053  of 
the  Hearings.  What  he  said  was  this : 
“but  in  the  Canal  Zone,  which  is  the 
mose  vulnerable  part  of  our  entire 
possessions,  anybody  can  go  there  and 
take  it  that  wants  to.” 

As  to  the  defenses  of  the  Phillipines,  I 
rather  think  that  Hon.  Clarence  B.  Miller, 
of  Minn.,  knows  more  about  the  matter 
than  any  other  Member  of  Congress.  I 
have  written  him  asking  him  to  send  you 
a copy  of  his  address  on  this  subject. 

As  to  the  defenses  of  the  Hawaiian  Is- 
lands and  Alaska,  I have  never  made  a 
study  of  them.  In  fact,  I doubt  whether 
there  are  any  defenses  to  Alaska. 

I shall  be  glad  at  any  time  to  give  you 
such  information  as  I possess  with  regard 
to  any  question  of  National  Defense. 

Very  truly  yours, 

A.  P.  GARDNER. 
Col.  Frank  M.  Sterrett, 

Troy,  Ohio. 

During  the  month  of  May,  1917,  a lineal 
descendant  of  Lafayette,  for  France,  and 
Lord  Balfour  for  England,  placed  on  the 
tomb  of  Washington — first  in  war,  first  in 
peace  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  country- 
men, an  everlasting  leaf  of  bronze,  in  the 
name  of  universal  democracy.  Ten  days 
later,  the  tomb  of  Lincoln,  the  savior  of 
the  nation,  was  honored  in  like  manner. 

We  would  not  if  we  could,  forget  the 
deeds  in  war  of  these  two  illustrious  Amer- 
icans, consummated  at  Yorktown  and  Ap- 
pomattox. We  cannot  forget  to  thrill  with 


patriotic  pride  at  the  mention  of  Jackson  at 
New  Orleans,  Scott  at  Chapultepec,  Hooker 
at  Lookout  and  Dewey  at  Manilla  Bay. 
We  would  not  recall  the  act  of  our  patriotic 
President  and  Congress  in  declaring  war 
on  the  imperial  German  government  for 
the  flagrant  violation  of  our  rights  and 
honor  and  the  premeditated  murder  of  our 
people.  This  war  is  a continuation  of  the 
war  of  1861  for  the  rights  of  humanity. 
It  is  the  last  great  war  before  universal 
democracy,  universal  disarmament  and 
universal  peace.  At  this  date,  June  18, 
1917,  the  United  States  has  voted  $7,000,- 
000,000  and  enrolled  10,000,000  of  men, 
the  latter  between  the  ages  of  21  and  31. 
We  are  entering  the  fight  on  a scale  unpre- 
cedented in  the  annals  of  war.  Not  only 
are  we  equipping  our  own  enormous  force 
but  we  are  lending  the  nations  of  Europe 
the  money  with  which  to  continue  the  gi- 
gantic struggle. 

Breathes  there  a man  with  soul  so  dead, 
That  unto  himself  hath  not  said, 

This  is  my  own,  my  native  land. 

Jacob  A.  Riss,  lying  ill  at  Ellsmore,  saw 
the  American  flag  flying  from  a ship  and 
sat  up  in  bed  and  shouted,  laughed  and 
cried  by  turns,  waving  my  handkerchief 
at  the  flag  out  there.  They  thought  I had 
lost  my  mind,  but  I told  them,  No!  thank 
God  I had  found  it  and  my  heart,  too,  at 
last!  That  it  was  my  flag!  that  my  chil- 
dren’s home  was  mine  indeed!  that  I had 
also  become  an  American  in  truth. 

The  old  ideas  of  a simpler  age,  are  pre- 
posterous now  and  those  who  attempt  to 
keep  them  working,  are  simply  holding 
back  the  hands  of  the  clock.  We  should 
have  the  courage  and  stamina  to  take  off 
our  coats,  put  on  our  armor  and  again 
fight  for  our  convictions. 

The  man  of  peace  at  any  price,  should 
not  to  be  too  supersensitive,  when  he  knows 
that  if  Texas  is  overrun,  those  Texans  yet 
alive  beyond  and  on  the  border,  will  be 
seen  fighting  their  way  back  to  their  dear 


THE  GERMAN- AMERICAN  WAR 


239 


ones.  The  love  of  home  and  country  and 
all  the  sweet  and  tender  things  that  make 
life  worth  living  will  create  an  army  of 
Joan’s  of  Arc  and  Molly  Starks  to  repel 
such  an  invasion. 

We  have  discharged  every  obligation  of 
National  honor  in  peace  and  war  with 
courage  and  courtesy  and  now,  marching 
under  the  oldest  flag  in  the  world,  with 
100,000,000  of  people  we  are  in  the  van- 


guard of  the  worlds  progress. 

Our  flag  is  8 years  older  than  the  red  and 
yellow  of  Spain,  17  years  older  than  the 
tri-color  of  France,  24  years  older  than  the 
Union  Jack  of  Great  Britain,  84  years 
older  than  the  red,  blue  and  green  of 
Italy,  and  94  years  older  than  the  red, 
white  and  black  of  Germany,  a flag  en- 
tirely too  young  to  chase  American  com- 
merce from  the  free  highways  of  the  sea. 


GENERAL  GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARK 


Born  near  Monticello,  Albc-rmarle  county,  Virginia,  November  19,  1752.  He  went  to  Kentucky  in  1775 
and  came  to  the  country  now  embraced  in  Miami  county  in  1882,  with  a thousand  Kentuckians:  burned 
the  Indian  village  at  Upper  Piqua  in  retaliation  for  Indian  depredations  in  Kentucky,  described  in  this 
chapter.  He  died  near  Louisvlle,  Kentuckey,  February  8,  1818. 


GENERAL  ANTHONY  WAYNE 

Bom  in  Eastown,  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  1,  1745.  The  hero  of  the  battle  of  Stony 
Point  during  the  Revolution  and  of  the  battle  of  Fallen  Timbers.  August  20,  1794,  the  result  of  which 
opened  up  Miami  county  to  settlement. 

He  died  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  December  13,  1796,  and  was  buried  in  his  native  county. 


LITTLE  TURTLE  OR  MICHIKINIQUA 

Little  Turtle  was  supposed  to  have  been  born  on  the  Miami  River  in  1747  and  was  the  greatest  chief 
in  the  history,  of  the  Miami  tribe  and  one  of  the  four  greatest  Indians  in  history,  ranking  with  Pontiac, 
Tecumseh  and  Chief  Joseph.  He  was  six  feet  in  height,  strong,  muscular  and  of  extreme  dignity.  It  was 
his  generalship  that  defeated  Harmon  in  1790  and  St.  Clair  in  1791.  He  was  defeated  by  Gen.  Wayne  in 
1794.  His  sympathies  were  with  the  Americans  in  1812.  He  died  at  Ft.  Wayne,  July  14,  1812,  induced 
by  gout. 


INSIGNIA  OF  LITTLE  TURTLE 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  BLOODY  PERIOD 


The  period  under  consideration  began 
when  we  became  a free  nation  and  ended 
with  the  beginning  of  a settlement  of 
Miami  county. 

The  events  which  led  up  to  the  defeat  of 
Gen.  Josiah  Harmar,  in  October,  1790,  by 
the  Miami  Indians  at  the  Maumee  Cross- 
ing and  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Arthur  St. 
Clair,  on  November  4,  1791,  at  a point  in 
Darke  county,  near  the  present  site  of 
Greenville,  are  narrated  in  some  form  by 
all  historians  but  in  no  form  so  succintly 
and  intelligently  expressed  as  we  find  it 
in  Burnet’s  notes  of  the  Northwest  terri- 
tory. We  will  use  this  work  freely  in  this 
chapter. 

In  1790,  the  Indians  of  the  Wabash  and 
Maumee  country  who  had  been  cowed  by 
the  drastic  punishment  administered  the 
Shawnets  at  Piqua  in  Clark  and  Miami 
counties  and  the  burning  of  their  villages 
in  1780-82  respectively,  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  crops,  by  that  unconquerable 
hero,  George  Rogers  Clark ; encouraged  by 
their  successful  forays  into  Kentucky, 
moved  southward  and  menaced  the  settle- 
ments, north  of  Fort  Washington,  which 
fort,  however,  they  never  attacked. 

In  March,  1790,  Gen.  Harmar  informed 
the  Secretary  of  War  that  the  Indians  con- 
tinued to  murder  and  plunder  the  inhabi- 
tants and  to  intercept  almost  every  boat 
that  attempted  to  pass  down  the  river. 
About  the  beginning  of  that  month,  they 
broke  up  Kennett’s  Station,  a few  miles 
from  Limestone,  where  they  killed  ten  or 
twelve  individuals.  During  the  same 
month  three  boats  descending  the  river  in 
company,  saw  a boat  lying  at  the  Indian 
shore,  a short  distance  above  the  Scioto 


river,  containing  a large  party  of  Indians. 
The  descending  boats  were,  fortunately, 
near  the  Virginia  shore  when  the  enemy 
was  discovered.  On  coming  opposite  to 
them,  a white  man  standing  at  the  edge  of 
the  water  called  them  and  begged  them  to 
surrender,  affirming,  as  the  fact  was,  that 
the  Indians  were  fifty  or  sixty  in  number 
and  if  resistance  should  be  made,  the  whole 
party  would  be  murdered.  The  proposi- 
tion was  rejected,  of  course,  on  which  the 
Indians  commenced  a heavy  fire  which  was 
continued  for  some  time,  without  effect, 
but  which  gave  the  descending  boats  time 
to  pass  them.  The  savages  failing  to  bring 
them  to,  commenced  a pursuit;  and  the 
Americans,  finding  they  could  not  save  all 
their  boats,  selected  the  strongest  and 
abandoned  the  others,  which  contained  a 
number  of  horses  and  much  valued  prop- 
erty. Holes  were  cut  in  the  sides  of  the 
boat  they  selected  to  enable  them  to  in- 
crease the  number  of  rowers.  The  Indians 
pursued  with  great  effort,  some  six  or 
eight  miles  when  they  gave  up  the  chase, 
and  the  Americans  arrived  at  Limestone 
without  further  molestation.  They  lost  28 
horses  and  merchandise  valued  at  $1,500, 
which  were  left  in  the  abandoned  boats. 

Bucker  Wonston,  then  a member  of  the 
Virginia  Legislature,  was  one  of  the  party 
and  reported  the  facts  to  Gen.  Harmar. 
The  party  consisted  of  28  men,  a family  of 
females  and  some  negro  women  and  chil- 
dren. The  boat  in  their  possession  had  been 
captured  by  them  a day  or  two  before,  that 
it  belonged  to  John  May,  who,  with  four 
others,  was  made  prisoner — not  one  of 
whom  escaped  to  tell  their  fate. 

It  appears  from  a note  written  Governor 

243 


244 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


St.  Clair,  that  in  January,  1790,  the  In- 
dians killed  three  men  within  twelve  miles 
of  Danville,  and  three  others  at  Carpen- 
ter’s Station  and  that  they  broke  up  the 
settlement  at  Russell’s  creek,  four  miles 
from  that  place. 

At  the  same  time,  a party  who  had  been 
out  on  a hunt,  about  six  miles  below  Lime- 
stone, were  fired  on  by  the  Indians  and  one 
of  them  killed.  It  so  happened  that  Major 
Doughty  was  then  passing  down  the  river 
with  a detachment  of  troops  destined  for 
Cincinnati,  who,  on  hearing  the  firing, 
landed  and  pursued  the  enemy  some  dis- 
tance, but  without  success.  Judge  Innes, 
writing  from  Danville,  on  the  13th  of 
March,  1790,  reported,  that  in  the  month 
of  January,  a boat,  having  ten  or  twelve 
persons  on  board,  one  of  them  a woman, 
was  captured  about  fifteen  miles  above 
Limestone,  and  that  the  boat  was  after- 
wards found,  containing  nine  dead  bodies, 
the  woman  being  missing.  During  that 
murderous  tragedy,  a boy,  who  had  been 
taken  prisoner  up  Licking  when  on  a hunt- 
ing excursion,  with  two  men  who  were 
killed,  made  his  escape  and  came  in  with 
the  information.  About  the  same  time, 
three  men  were  killed  on  the  road  from 
Richland  to  Sinking  creek.  Old  Mr.  Sloan 
and  his  son  were  killed  on  the  head  of  Roll- 
ing Fork,  and  one  man  was  killed  on  Holm 
creek.  A station  on  Russell’s  creek  was 
attacked,  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month 
when  Isaac  Harris  and  his  son,  whose 
name  was  not  mentioned,  were  killed.  On 
the  same  occasion,  a white  woman  and  a 
negro  woman  were  wounded  and  a number 
of  horses  carried  off.  Soon  after  a man  by 
the  name  of  Harper,  was  killed  on  Slate 
creek.  In  addition  to  these  murders,  only 
two  others  were  reported  on  the  Rolling 
Fork,  during  that  month — one  was  of  a 
man,  the  other  of  a woman — but  the  in- 
formation received  from  various  quarters, 
indicated  very  hostile  movements,  in  the 
approaching  Spring. 

A letter  addressed  to  the  Hon.  John 
Brown,  dated  April  4, 1790,  stated  that  the 


Indians  had  made  great  havoc  on  the  Ohio, 
that  about  fifty  of  them  were  encamped 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto;  and  that 
among  other  depredations,  they  had  cap- 
tured a Periogue,  having  six  men  on  board, 
who  were  ascending  the  river  from  Lime- 
stone whom  they  put  to  death.  They  had 
also  captured  the  boat  of  John  May,  who 
was  on  board,  with  a crew  of  three  or  four 
men,  all  of  whom  were  put  to  death. 

About  the  same  time,  two  other  boats 
were  taken — one  of  them  belonging  to  emi- 
grating families — the  other  being  the 
property  of  Thomas  Marshall  and  others. 
The  fate  of  the  unfortunate  captives  in 
those  two  boats  was  not  mentioned,  but 
may  be  readily  conjectured. 

On  another  occasion,  the  Indians  con- 
cealed themselves  and  sent  a white  pris- 
oner to  the  edge  of  the  water  to  hail  a de- 
scending boat  and  entreat  those  on  board 
to  come  and  take  him  in,  affirming  that  he 
had  made  his  ascape  from  the  savages  and 
was  in  danger  of  perishing.  The  strata- 
gem was  suspected  and,  of  course,  did  not 
succeed.  At  the  same  time,  information 
was  received  of  the  taking  of  a boat  on 
Salt  river  and  of  the  murder  of  the  crew, 
consisting  of  John  Prior  and  two  others, 
whose  names  were  not  given. 

In  May  following,  Ensign  Hartshorne, 
of  the  United  States  Army  descended  the 
river  with  several  boats,  and  landed  in  the 
evening  about  nine  miles  above  Limestone. 
At  midnight,  they  were  attacked  with 
great  fury  and  one  of  the  boats  taken.  The 
night  being  very  dark  and  the  command- 
ant’s boat  being  hard  pressed,  he  ordered 
them  all  to  put  off  and  make  the  best  of 
their  way  to  Limestone,  assuring  them 
that  the  force  of  his  boat  would  keep  the 
enemy  in  check.  The  order  was  obeyed 
and  at  three  o’clock  in  the  morning  they 
reached  Limestone.  In  the  afternoon,  a 
party  went  up  to  the  place  where  the  at- 
tack had  been  made.  The  savages  had 
gone,  but  they  found  one  man,  one  woman 
and  three  children  killed  and  scalped, 
whose  remains  they  conveyed  to  Lime- 


THE  BLOODY  PERIOD 


245 


stone.  The  entire  loss  during  the  attack 
was  reported  to  be  thirteen  killed  and 
missing. 

During  the  same  season,  a small  party 
of  Indians,  concealed  near  a path,  leading 
from  Cincinnati  to  Columbia,  discovered  a 
canoe  passing  up  near  the  Indian  shore 
containing  two  men,  a boy  and  a woman. 
They  attacked  the  canoe,  killed  the  adults 
and  took  the  boy  prisoner.  He  was  the 
only  son  of  Col.  Spencer,  of  Columbia,  who 
had  been  a brave,  gallant  officer  in  the 
Revolutionary  W ar.  The  lad  was  taken  to 
the  head  waters  of  the  Big  Miami  and 
adopted  into  the  Indian  family,  in  which 
he  lived  two  or  three  years.  President 
Washington  who  entertained  a great  re- 
gard for  Col.  Spencer,  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  British  Minister  and  the 
commandant  at  Detroit,  procured  the  ran- 
som of  the  lad,  and  restored  him  to  his 
parents. 

It  was  stated  in  a letter  from  Judge 
Innes,  that  on  the  13th  day  of  May,  1790, 
the  Indians  killed  two  white  men,  two  girls 
and  two  negroes  in  .Jefferson  county  and 
at  the  same  time,  scalped  one  woman,  and 
made  prisoner  of  another. 

The  Lieutenant  of  the  same  county  re- 
ported the  wounding  of  a man  near  Hites’ 
plantation  and  spoke  of  it  as  the  last  of 
many  depredations  committed  in  that 
county.  On  the  28th  of  May,  certificates 
had  fired  on  a company  of  people  on  Clear 
a party  of  Indians,  on  the  23rd  of  May, 
were  sent  to  Judge  Innes  from  several 
persons  stating  that  the  Indians  had  made 
prisoners  of  two  young  men  and  a negro 
woman  in  a field  on  Breshear’s  creek,  that 
they  had  killed  two  young  men  at  work  in 
a field  on  Lick  creek;  that  they  had  cap- 
tured two  boys  belonging  to  London’s  Sta- 
tion, on  the  head  of  Drennon’s  creek ; that 
creek  as  they  were  returning  from  meet- 
ing, on  which  occasion  they  had  killed  one 
man  and  took  a young  woman  prisoner, 
whom  they  carried  about  ten  miles  and 
then  tomahawked  and  scalped  her;  and 
that  a party  was  sent  out  in  pursuit  which 


recovered  the  mangled  bodies  and  brought 
them  into  the  settlement. 

On  the  12th  of  the  same  month,  John 
Caldwell,  of  Nelson  county,  reported  to 
Judge  Innes  that  on  the  preceding  Thurs- 
day, ten  or  eleven  Indians  attacked  the 
house  of  Miles  Hart  on  Valley  creek;  that 
they  had  murdered  him,  captured  his  wife 
and  two  children,  who  constituted  the 
whole  of  his  family  and  carried  them  off 
with  such  of  his  property  as  they  could 
conveniently  take  with  them.  Christopher 
Greencock,  on  the  24th  of  May,  certified 
that  the  Indians  had  stolen  four  horses 
from  Mr.  Meaux,  who  lived  very  far  in  the 
interior.  On  the  4th  of  June,  it  was  cer- 
tified to  Judge  Innes,  that  the  Indians 
came  to  the  Rolling  Fork  and  stole  16 
hordes;  that  they  were  pursued  by  Capt. 
Wilson  at  the  head  of  a small  party,  who 
came  up  with  them,  but  the  Captain  be- 
ing killed,  the  party  was  over-powered  and 
obliged  to  retreat. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  Robert  Johnston 
sent  depositions  to  Judge  Innes,  stating 
the  murder  of  Mr.  McBride  and  Mr.  Mc- 
Connell, in  April  preceding;  also  that  a 
son  of  Mr.  Tanner,  residing  on  the  Ohio 
river  near  the  Big  Miami  had  been  taken 
prisoner;  and  that  in  the  Fall  preceding, 
two  men  were  killed,  one  of  them  a Mr. 
Brown,  whose  wife  and  children  were  then 
living  in  Lexington.  It  was  stated  by  one 
of  the  deponents  that  he  was  with  the 
party  who  brought  in  the  body. 

The  same  depositions  recited  the  partic- 
ulars of  an  incursion  by  another  party  of 
Indians  in  the  preceding  Winter,  among 
other  depredations,  stole  a large  number 
of  horses.  On  the  12th  of  the  same  month, 
John  Garnet  in  a deposition  taken  before 
R.  Johnston,  a magistrate  in  Woodford 
county,  stated  he  was  at  Tanner’s  Station 
on  the  Ohio,  about  five  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Big  Miami,  in  the  latter  part 
of  April  or  beginning  of  May,  when  five 
Indians  placed  themselves  in  ambush  be- 
tween the  cabin  of  Mr.  Tanner  and  his 
field,  and  captured  his  son,  a lad  about 


246 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


nine  years  old,  with  whom  they  crossed 
the  Ohio. 

On  the  same  day,  the  deposition  of  S. 
Stephenson  was  taken  before  the  same 
magistrate,  stating  that  in  April,  1790,  he 
was  one  of  the  party  who  went  out  and 
brought  in  the  bodies  of  James  McBride 
and  Mr.  McConnell  killed  on  the  path  from 
Elkhorn  to  Licking;  that  they  had  both 
been  scalped.  One  of  them  was  very  much 
cut  with  a tomahawk  and  the  other  was 
shot  through  the  hips.  The  depositions  of 
Rankin  and  Hays,  taken  in  Bourbon 
county,  state  that  on  the  12th  of  May, 
Lewis  Parker  was  murdered  while  en- 
gaged in  his  work;  that  he  was  found 
about  an  hour  after  he  had  been  killed  and 
that  he  had  received  many  wounds  from 
bullets,  tomahawks,  and  that  he  had  been 
scalped. 

Benjamin  Harrison  certified  that  Par- 
ker was  killed  at  the  house  of  Michael 
Hogg  near  his  own  residence  and  that  he 
followed  the  trail  of  the  party  who  com- 
mitted the  murder,  nearly  ten  miles,  in  the 
direction  of  Big  Bone  Lick.  He  also  cer- 
tified that  the  Indians  had  recently  stolen 
two  horses  from  Mr.  Coleman.  On  the 
12th  of  May,  the  Lieutenant  of  Bourbon 
county  informed  Judge  Innes,  that  since 
his  last  letter,  a man  had  been  killed  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  in  his  cornfield,  on  the 
preceding  Thursday;  and  also  that  a boat 
had  been  taken  above  Limestone  contain- 
ing five  or  six  persons,  who  were  left 
murdered  on  the  shore,  and  he  expressed 
it  as  his  opinion  that  no  greater  proof  need 
be  required  of  the  intention  of  the  savages 
to  destroy  the  American  settlements.  The 
Lieutenant  of  Mason  county  reported  on 
the  16th  of  May,  that  on  the  night  of  the 
11th,  a party  of  Indians  made  an  attack 
on  four  boats,  above  Limestone ; that  three 
of  the  number  escaped,  but  that  the  fourth 
containing  sixteen  souls,  was  taken,  five  of 
whom  were  killed  and  mangled  in  a horri- 
ble manner,  three  made  their  escape,  leav- 
ing the  remaining  eight  in  the  hands  of  the 
Indians.  In  the  same  report,  it  was  stated 


that  the  trail  of  a party  of  Indians  sup- 
posed to  be  about  fifteen  in  number,  was 
discovered  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month, 
which  crossed  the  river  near  the  lower 
settlement  of  Mason  county  in  a direction 
toward  the  Blue  Licks.  It  was  also  stated 
by  the  Lieutenant  that  these  and  similar 
depredations  had  greatly  excited  the  peo- 
ple and  that  the  surveyors  and  hunters 
had  all  retired  from  the  work. 

On  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  a party 
of  white  men  were  attacked  and  defeated 
below  Ingle’s  Station,  six  of  whom  were 
missing  and  supposed  to  have  been  killed. 
Their  horses  and  other  property  fell  into 
the  enemy’s  hands. 

In  addition  to  these  depredations  com- 
mitted in  the  fatal  month  of  May,  1790, 
an  attack  was  made  on  a party  of  white 
men  in  Madison  county,  forty  miles  be- 
yond the  settlements  in  which  the  Indians 
killed  four,  and  wounded  two  men,  and 
captured  ten  or  twelve  horses  with  other 
valuable  property. 

On  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  April  in 
Nelson  county,  the  Indians  fell  on  a party 
of  men,  women  and  children  returning 
from  a religious  meeting  on  Rough  creek ; 
they  killed  a girl  of  twelve  and  a boy  of 
eight  years  of  age,  and  wounded  an  elderly 
woman  severely  in  the  head,  back  and 
arms,  and  having  taken  her  scalp,  left  her 
alive  on  the  ground;  they,  also,  captured 
a daughter  of  J.  Barnet,  eleven  years  old, 
and  carried  her  into  captivity.  A party 
soon  collected  and  went  in  pursuit  of  the 
savages,  but  night  coming  on,  they  were 
not  able  to  overtake  them. 

These  frequent  predatory  movements  of 
the  savages,  following  each  other  in  such 
rapid  succession,  produced  universal 
alarm  throughout  the  country;  and  the 
settlers  began  to  think  they  would  be  com- 
pelled to  abandon  it.  They  had  given  up 
all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  civil- 
ized life,  to  which  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed for  any  and  every  advantage  antici- 
pated from  their  change  of  location.  But 
when  in  addition  to  this,  life  was  in  per- 


THE  BROODY  PERIOD 


247 


petual  danger,  there  could  be  no  motive  in- 
ducing them  to  continue  in  such  a state  of 
imminent  exposure. 

Men  of  influence,  in  every  part  of  the 
frontier  country,  saw  and  felt  that  vigor- 
ous and  immediate  measures  were  neces- 
sary to  save  the  American  settlements 
from  being  deserted  by  their  inhabitants, 
or  broken  up  and  laid  waste  by  the 
savages. 

The  tardy  movements  of  the  general 
government  were  criticized  with  great 
severity ; and  men  of  influence  on  the  fron- 
tier were  deliberating  on  the  expediency 
of  taking  their  protection  into  their  own 
hands  and  conducting  expeditions  into  the 
Indian  country  on  their  own  responsibil- 
ity. So  strong  and  general  was  this  feel- 
ing, that  the  intelligent  men  at  the  differ- 
ent settlements  and  stations,  simultane- 
ously and  without  concert,  addressed  Gen. 
Harmar,  as  the  commandant  of  the  United 
States  troops ; representing  in  strong 
terms,  the  murder  of  men  and  women  and 
children,  daily,  perpetrated  by  the  In- 
dians, and  the  impossibility  of  sustaining 
the  settlements  much  longer  unless  more 
efficient  measures  were  resorted  to  by 
Congress. 

Among  those  who  wrote  to  the  General 
on  that  subject  were  Levi  Todd,  of  Fay- 
ette, Robert  Patterson,  of  Lexington,  and 
Judge  Innes,  of  Danville.  In  these  com- 
munications, the  difficulties  and  distresses 
of  the  people  were  depicted  and  measures 
suggested  to  relieve  them.  Letters  were 
written  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  recapitu- 
lating the  complaints  and  distresses  of  the 
people.  In  July,  1790,  Judge  Innes  wrote 
thus  to  the  War  Department,  “I  have  been 
intimately  acquainted  with  this  district 
since  1783  and  I can,  with  truth,  say  that 
in  that  period  the  Indians  have  always 
been  the  aggressors — that  any  incursions 
made  into  their  country,  have  been  pro- 
duced by  reiterated  injuries  committed  by 
them,  that  the  predatory  mode  of  warfare 
they  have  carried  on,  renders  it  difficult 
and  indeed  impossible  to  discriminate  or 


to  ascertain  to  which  tribe  the  offenders 
belong,  that  since  his  first  visit  to  the  dis- 
trict in  November,  1783,  he  could  venture 
to  say  that  more  than  fifteen  hundred  per- 
sons had  been  killed  and  taken  prisoners 
by  the  Indians,  that  upward  of  twenty 
thousand  horses  had  been  taken  and  car- 
ried oft’,  with  other  property  consisting  of 
money,  merchandise,  household  goods, 
wearing  apparel,  etc.,  of  great  value,  that 
the  government  had  been  repeatedly  in- 
formed of  those  injuries  and  they  contin- 
ued to  be  perpetrated  daily,  notwithstand- 
ing which  the  people  had  received  no  sat- 
isfaction or  information  as  to  whether  the 
government  intended  to  afford  them  relief 
or  not. 

He  remarked  that  the  consequences  to 
the  district  were  serious  and  might  be 
fatal,  that  the  population  on  the  frontier 
was  actually  decreasing  by  the  murder  and 
depredations  constantly  committed  by  the 
Indians,  that  those  occurrences  not  only 
reduced  the  number  and  strength  of  the 
settlers,  but  deterred  others  from  joining 
them  who  had  been  making  arrangements 
to  do  so,  that  as  a consequence,  their 
strength  was  lessened,  their  wealth  dim- 
inished and  the  value  of  their  lands  dimin- 
ished. He  inquired  what  the  result  would 
be,  and  answered  the  question  by  assuring 
the  department  that  volunteer  expeditions 
would  be  carried  into  the  Indian  country, 
as  well  for  the  purpose  of  revenge,  as  for 
protection  and  self  preservation ; and  that 
it  would  not  be  in  the  power  of  the  govern- 
ment to  restrain  or  regulate  them ; and,  as 
a consequence,  the  volunteers  engaged 
would  not  discriminate  between  the  hos- 
tile Indians  and  those  with  whom  the 
United  States  had  treaties,  but  would 
treat  all  as  enemies  who  might  come  in 
their  way;  and  that  the  friendly  Indians 
would  lose  all  confidence  in  the  govern- 
ment, that  such  a result  would  not  only 
prevent  the  accomplishment  of  the  views 
of  Congress  but  would  undo  all  that  had 
been  previously  done.  He  then  added,  “I 
will,  sir,  be  candid  on  this  subject  not  only 


248 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


as  an  inhabitant  of  Kentucky,  but  as  a 
friend  of  society  who  wishes  to  see  order 
and  regularity  preserved  in  the  govern- 
ment under  which  we  live.  The  people 
say  they  have  long  groaned  under  their 
misfortunes — they  see  no  prospect  of  re- 
lief— they  constitute  the  strength  and 
wealth  of  the  western  country,  and  yet  all 
measures  heretofore  attempted  have  been 
committed  for  execution  to  the  hands  of 
strangers  who  have  no  interest  in  common 
with  the  west.  They  are  the  great  suffer- 
ers and  yet  they  have  no  voice  in  the  mat- 
ters which  so  vitally  effect  them.  They  are 
accused  of  being  the  aggressors  and  have 
no  representative  to  state  or  justify  their 
conduct. 

“These  are  the  general  sentiments  of 
the  western  people,  who  are  beginning  to 
want  faith  in  the  government  and  appear 
determined  to  avenge  themselves.  For 
this  purpose  a meeting  was  lately  held  in 
this  place  by  a number  of  respectable 
characters  to  determine  on  the  propriety 
of  carrying  on  their  expeditions  this  Fall. 
For  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a more  gen- 
eral representation  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  district,  the  business  was  postponed  to 
the  meeting  which  is  to  be  held  about  the 
26th  inst.  at  which  time  there  will  be  a 
very  general  collection  of  the  people  of  the 
district;  and  unless  some  satisfaction  is 
received  before  that  time,  I fully  expect 
one  or  more  expeditions  will  be  deter- 
mined on.  Impressed  with  the  idea  that 
the  foregoing  observations  will  not  be  un- 
acceptable to  you  as  an  officer  of  the  gov- 
ernment, through  whose  department  they 
may  be  communicated  to  the  President,  I 
shall  make  no  apology  for  the  length  of 
my  letter.” 

In  September,  Governor  St.  Clair  ad- 
vised the  War  Department  that  the  dep- 
redations on  the  Ohio  and  the  Wabash 
continued,  that  almost  every  day  brought 
an  account  of  some  murder  or  robbery, 
that  a number  of  horses  had  been  taken 
from  the  vicinity  of  Marietta,  that  shortly 
before,  a boat  belonging  to  Col.  Vigo,  of 


Post  Vincennes,  a gentleman  to  whom  the 
United  States  were  under  great  obliga- 
tions, was  fired  upon  near  the  mouth  of 
Blue  River  and  three  of  his  men  killed; 
and  that  afterwards,  in  attempting  to  as- 
cend the  Wabash,  his  boat  was  again  at- 
tacked, captured  and  plundered;  and 
about  the  same  time,  Captain  McCurdy, 
of  the  regular  troops,  was  fired  upon  while 
descending  the  Ohio  river. 

It  is  not  to  be  understood  that  the  gov- 
ernment had  not  taken  a deep  interest  in 
the  situation  of  this  western  frontier.  A 
committee,  headed  by  Capt.  Brandt  and  1VL. 
Gameline  was  sent  out,  with  full  power 
to  negotiate  a treaty  with  them,  and  M. 
Gameline  had  succeeded  in  getting  all  the 
chiefs  who  were  present  assembled  in  a 
council  when  he  told  them  he  could  not  go 
to  Detroit ; that  the  speeches  were  directed 
to  the  nations  of  the  Wabash  and  the 
Maumee;  and  that  to  prove  the  sincerity 
of  the  speech  and  the  heart  of  Governor 
St.  Clair,  he  had  given  them  a copy  to  be 
shown  to  the  commandant  at  Detroit.  He 
told  them  that  he  had  nothing  to  say  to  the 
commandant  at  Detroit  and  the  command- 
ant had  nothing  to  say  to  him.  This  meet- 
ing was  held  on  April  29,  1790,  and  was 
closed  by  the  following  speech  from  Blue 
Jacket:  “My  friend,  we  are  all  well 

pleased  with  what  you  say.  Our  interest 
is  not  to  force  you  to  go  to  Detroit.  It  is 
only  a proposal,  thinking  it  for  the  best. 
In  thirty  nights,  we  shall  send  a full  and 
positive  answer  to  Post  Vincennes  by  a 
young  man  from  each  nation.  The  nego- 
tiations continued  from  April  until  Au- 
gust and  while  interesting  to  the  student, 
a complete  history  of  them  here,  would  be 
undesirable.  The  last  speech  was  signed 
by  the  Wyandottes,  Seven  Nations  of 
Canada,  Delawares,  Shawnees,  Miamis, 
Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Senecas,  of  the 
Glaise,  Pottawatomies,  Connoys,  Munsees, 
Nontakokees,  Mohicans,  Creeks  and  Cher- 
okees,  and  read  as  follows: 

“Brothers : We  shall  be  persuaded  that 
you  mean  to  do  us  justice,  if  you  agree 


THE  BLOODY  PERIOD 


249 


that  the  Ohio  shall  remain  the  boundary 
line  between  us.  If  you  will  not  consent  to 
that,  our  meeting  will  be  altogether  un- 
necessary. This  is  the  great  point,  which 
we  hoped  would  have  been  explained  be- 
fore you  left  your  homes,  as  our  message, 
last  Fall,  was  principally  directed  to  that 
subject.” 

The  commissioners  immediately  dis- 
patched the  following  reply  to  the  chiefs 
and  warriors  of  the  Indian  nations  as- 
sembled at  the  foot  of  the  Miami  Rapids. 

“Brothers : We  have  just  received  your 
answer  to  our  speech  of  the  31st  of  last 
month — July,  1790 — you  say  it  was  inter- 
preted to  all  your  nations,  and  we  presume 
it  was  fully  understood.  We,  therein,  ex- 
plicitly declared  that  it  was  impossible  to 
make  the  Ohio  river  the  boundary  between 
your  lands  and  the  lands  of  the  United 
States.  Your  answer  amounts  to  a declar- 
ation that  you  will  agree  to  no  other 
boundary  than  the  Ohio.  The  negotia- 
tions are,  therefore,  at  an  end.” 

Thus  ended  the  last  effort  at  peace  be- 
fore Harmar’s  expedition,  two  months 
afterward.  It  has  always  been  believed 
that  the  negotiations  of  more  than  three 
months  would  have  terminated  in  peace 


but  for  the  English  management  from  De- 
troit. It  is  a humiliating  fact  that  while 
Detroit  was  in  American  territory,  the 
English  had  refused  to  abandon  it  accord- 
ing to  treaty  and  it  was  from  this  point 
that  our  greatest  trouble  in  the  settlement 
of  our  Indian  affairs  proceeded.  The  en- 
mity and  duplicity  of  the  English  at  that 
time  should  be  a black  spot  on  their  na- 
tional honor  through  all  coming  time. 
While  England  was  furnishing  arms  to  the 
Indians  and  furnishing  Canadian  soldiers 
to  assist  the  Indians,  the  young  republic 
was  forced  to  appear  in  the  relation  of 
peace  to  her  secret  enemy.  I am  glad  our 
first  army  in  the  German-American  war 
of  1917  landed  in  France  to  relieve  them, 
rather  than  England. 

The  defeat  of  Iiarmar  in  October,  1790, 
and  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair  in  November, 
1791,  was  followed  by  the  appointment  of 
Anthony  Wayne  as  Commander-in-chief 
of  the  American  army.  At  that  time,  wes- 
tern Pennsylvania  contained  a white  pop- 
ulation of  60,000;  West  Virginia,  55,000; 
Kentucky,  70,000;  and  Ohio,  2,000,  more 
than  half  of  whom  were  located  at  Cincin- 
nati and  Marietta. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  DESIRE  TO  KNOW 


The  three  paramount  passions  of  the 
human  heart  are  to  inquire  from  whence 
we  came  and  to  what  place  we  are  bound ; 
to  love  and  be  loved  and  to  acquire  knowl- 
edge. 

The  first  passion,  usually  called  religion, 
impelled  500,000,000  people,  about  one- 
half  the  population  of  the  world,  princi- 
pally in  central  and  eastern  Asia  and  the 
Indian  islands,  to  adopt  the  doctrine  of 
Buddha  which  teaches  the  transmigration 
of  the  soul  in  all  phases  and  forms  of  life. 

Another  50,000,000,  prevailing  in  Asi- 
atic Turkey,  Persia,  Afghanistan,  Be- 
loochistan,  Arabia  and  India,  have  es- 
poused the  doctrine  of  Islamism,  repre- 
sented in  the  Koran,  which  does  not  differ 
in  its  essential  features  from  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  They  regard  our  Christ 
with  reverence,  second  only  to  Moham- 
med. “There  is  but  one  God  and  Moham- 
med is  his  apostle.” 

In  the  second  passion  is  summed  up 
God’s  love  for  his  children  and  man’s  love 
for  his  Maker,  his  wife,  his  child  and 
neighbor. 

Our  desire  to  know  the  history  of  the 
soil  which  we  now  cultivate;  the  races  of 
men  who  occupied  it  before  we  came; 
their  occupation  when  they  were  here; 
would  compel  a review  of  primoraal  condi- 
tions; the  glacial  and  paleolithic  periods; 
the  mound  builders  and  the  period  of  the 
North  American  Indians,  which  will  not 
be  expected  and,  indeed,  would  be  inappro- 
priate in  a county  history. 

It  is  sufficient  for  our  present  purpose 
to  know  that  our  Indian  progenitors  had 
250 


occupied  Ohio  and  Miami  county  only  a 
part  of  the  time  for  two  centuries  prior  to 
our  arrival.  It  seems  to  be  substantially 
established  that  the  dominant  and  war- 
like six  nations  whose  base  of  empire  was 
particularly  along  the  Mohawk  in  the 
present  State  of  New  York,  had  crossed 
Ohio,  especially  the  northern  portion, 
many  times,  during  that  period  in  her 
predatory  excursions  against  the  Miamis 
and  other  western  tribes  and  had  even 
driven  them  west  of  the  Mississippi  in  or- 
der that  they  could  with  some  reasonable- 
ness claim  that  under  the  law  of  conquest, 
all  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi,  except 
such  lands  as  they  had  ceded  by  treaty  in 
the  eastern  section,  belonged  to  them. 

It  is  not  likely  that  any  of  the  western 
tribes  of  Indians,  at  any  time,  laid  claim 
to  the  lands  now  embraced  in  the  State  of 
Ohio,  prior  to  the  year  1700  and  it  is  very 
doubtful  whether  they  even  hunted  in 
during  that  period  of  ascendancy  of  the 
six  nations.  The  most  warlike  of  the  six 
nations  were  the  Iroquois  who  believed 
that  the  most  ignoble  act  was  the  forgive- 
ness of  an  injury.  The  highest  virtue  in 
his  code  was  revenge.  He  had  no  concep- 
tion of  honorable  warfare.  His  highest 
development  consisted  in  ambuscade  and 
massacre.  The  Indian  woman  was  a beast 
of  burden  and  the  social  principle  was 
correspondingly  low.  Sometimes  in  their 
history  they  developed  a great  chieftain 
who  had  the  ability  to  unite  some  of  the 
tribes  in  a common  purpose,  which  if 
transmitted  to  a successor  with  equal 
power,  the  Indians  might  have  been 


TECUMSEH,  OR  THE  SHOOTING  STAR 


Famous  Shawnee  War  Chief  and  General  in  the  British  Army  in  War  of  1812.  He  was  the  noblest 
Indian  of  them  all,  born  at  the  old  Indian  town  of  Piqua  on  the  Mad  River  in  1768.  He  would  not 
permit  his  troops  to  scalp  or  mistreat  prisoners.  When  General  Proctor  said  4 Your  Indians  cannot  be 
restrained,”  Tecumseh  thundered,  “Begone,  you  are  not  fit  to  command.  Go  home  and  put  on  the  petti- 
coat of  a squaw  !”  and  then  he  stopped  the  slaughter  which  Proctor  had  been  looking  at  complacently. 


HOG  PATH  ROAI) 


TURKEY  FOOT  ROCK 

Near  Old  Fort  Miami  on  the  Maumee,  on  the  battlefield  of  Fallen  Timbers,  fully  described  elsewhere 
in  this  book. 


WOLVERTON  INDIAN  MOUND 


Is  located  on  the  Wolverton  farm,  five  miles  east  of  South  of  Troy  on  the  east  side  turnpike  from 
Troy  to  Dayton. 

As  shown  in  the  picture,  it  was  opened  some  fifteen  years  ago  and  a number  of  interesting  relics 
were  unearthed  of  such  interest  to  archaeologists  that  Mr.  Wolverton  could  have  realized  a handsome 
sum,  if  he  had  been  inclined  to  sell  them,  which,  when  I last  interviewed  him,  he  refused  to  do. 

There  were  three  skeletons,  supposedly  of  prehistoric  man,  one  of  unusual  length,  copper  coins  and 
utensils,  placed  there  if  some  authors  are  to  be  credited,  before  the  pyramids  were  constructed. 

There  are  twenty-two  of  these  mounds  in  Miami  county,  one  or  more  in  each  township,  many  of 
which  have  been  opened  and  found  to  contain  about  the  same  character  of  contents. 

Not  pretending  to  have  investigated  this  subject  sufficiently  to  pass  an  opinion  thereon,  I have  con- 
tented myself  with  guessing  that  these  mounds  are  not  of  the  great  antiquity  claimed  for  them,  but 
were  built  by  the  North  American  Indian,  whom  we  found  here. 


THE  DESIRE  TO  KNOW 


255 


formed  into  a union  with  a general  con- 
gress that  would  have  saved  much  blood- 
shed and  settled  the  title  to  lands  many 
years  earlier  and  to  the  great  advantage 
of  both  the  white  and  red  man.  The  In- 
dian in  a vague  way  believed  he  owned  the 
whole  of  North  America,  but  he  had  no 
more  definite  conception  of  its  boundary 
lines  than  had  King  James  I in  1606,  when 
he  grandiloquently  passed  a title  to  the 
London  and  Plymouth  Company  between 
the  34th  and  45th  parallel  of  latitude 
“from  sea  to  sea.” 

That  about  which  the  Indian  was  so  un- 
certain made  it  difficult  for  the  United 
States  to  secure  the  possession  of,  through 
treaty  and  purchase.  The  government  no 
sooner  purchased  the  rights  of  one  tribe 
when  it  was  confronted  with  the  claims  of 
another  tribe,  claiming  ownership  in  the 
same  section. 

If  the  later  dream  of  Tecumseh  for  a 
confederation  of  all  Indian  tribes  had  been 
a fact  when  the  Europeans  first  came  to 
America,  the  settlement  of  the  country 
would  have  been  acomplished  with  much 
less  sacrifice  of  life  and  treasure. 

That  the  Indian  himself,  in  his  uncivil- 
ized way,  realized  his  inability  to  transmit 
a title  by  separate  tribe  action,  is  illus- 
trated by  the  speech  of  the  Shawnee  chief 
at  the  Maumee  Rapids,  at  the  time,  June, 
1793,  when  the  negotiations  were  going 
forward  for  a definite  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  lands  of  the  white  and  red  man 
in  the  north  west  territory. 

“Brother!  We  have  something  more  to 
say  to  you  but  not  much.  We  are  small, 
compared  to  our  great  chiefs,  at  the 
Miami,  but  though  small,  we  have  some- 
thing to  say.  We  think  from  your  speech, 
there  is  a prospect  of  coming  together. 
We,  who  are  the  nations  at  the  west,  are  of 
one  mind;  and  if  we  agree  with  you,  as 
there  is  a prospect  we  shall,  it  will  be  bind- 
ing and  lasting.  Our  prospects  are  the 
fairer,  because  our  minds  are  one.  You 
have  not  heretofore  spoken  to  us  unitedly. 
Formerly,  because  you  did  not  speak  to  us 


unitedly  what  was  done  was  not  binding. 
Now  you  have  an  opportunity  of  speaking 
to  us  together;  and  we  now  take  you  by 
the  hand,  to  lead  you  to  the  place  ap- 
pointed for  the  meeting.” 

When  it  is  recollected  that  this  same 
Shawnee  chief  had  been  a party  to  a sol- 
emn treaty  at  the  mouth  of  the  Miami,  on 
January  31,  1786,  in  which  his  tribe  had 
ceded,  for  valuable  consideration,  all  lands 
east  of  the  great  Miami  river  to  the 
United  States  and  reserved  all  lands  west 
of  that  river  for  themselves  and  that  the 
Shawnees  had  undisputed  possession  of 
the  country  claimed  and  ceded,  an  Indian 
title,  seems  so  surrounded  with  unravell- 
able  mystery  as  to  preclude  any  possibility 
of  serious  transaction ; and  that  this 
Shawnee  chief  should  admit  that  “ivhat 
was  done,  was  not  binding,”  after  accept- 
ing valuable  consideration  for  his  con- 
fessed spurious  title,  does  not  paint  his 
honor  in  a high  light. 

In  this  nightmare  of  uncertainty,  it  is 
highly  to  the  credit  of  Gen.  Wayne,  that 
he  succeeded  in  gathering  together  the 
chiefs  of  all  the  Ohio  and  Indian  tribes 
and  negotiating  a treaty  with  them,  al- 
though some  of  them  repudiated  it  fifteen 
years  afterward. 

One  does  not  like  to  leave  this  portion 
of  the  subject  without  the  soliloquy  of 
how  binding  the  Greenville  treaty  would 
have  been,  if  the  six  nations  of  the  east 
and  the  tribes  west  of  the  Mississippi,  had 
objected  to  its  provisions.  It  was  but  a 
few  years  afterward  when  Tecumseh  un- 
dertook a general  confederation  of  Indians 
when  he  claimed  that  all  treaties  thereto- 
fore made  were  violable  for  want  of  the 
general  concurrence  of  all  Indian  nations. 
In  the  light  of  the  above  facts,  posterity 
has  not  paid  that  mede  of  gratitude,  due 
those  sturdy  pioneers  who  conquered  the 
primitive  conditions  of  Miami  county  and 
thereby  made  it  possible  to  arrive  at  our 
present  station  of  advancement  and  pros- 
perity. 

The  Indian  did  not  worship  in  churches, 


256 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


but  his  religion  was  along  Christian  lines. 
Our  God  was  his  “Great  Spirit.”  He  be- 
lieved, as  we  do,  in  the  reward  of  the 
righteous  and  the  punishment  of  the 
wicked.  Their  religious  worship  was  ac- 
companied with  great  solemnity.  He  lived 
in  a tent  covered  with  skins.  His  utensils 
were  few  and  primitive.  His  implement 
of  warfare  was  the  bow  and  arrow.  His 
implement  of  industry  was  his  hatchet  of 
stone  or  copper.  The  range  of  his  bow 
and  arrow  was  200  yards,  within  which  he 
could  drive  his  arrow  through  a buffalo. 
He  had  no  art  and  his  writing  consisted  in 
rough  hieroglyphics.  He  was  invariably 
taciturn  which,  in  some  cases,  assumed  the 
height  of  genuine  dignity.  His  amuse- 
ments were  the  dance,  boat  and  foot  races, 
shooting  at  mark,  playing  at  ball  and 
gambling. 

The  white  man’s  treatment  of  the  In- 
dian has  not  always  been  just,  and  neither 
has  their  treatment  of  each  other  been  at 
all  times  just.  “Man’s  inhumanity  to  man 
has  made  countless  millions  mourn.” 

The  Indians’  claim  to  the  title  of  all 
lands  of  the  United  States  seems  to  stand 
on  mighty  thin  reasoning.  Take  the  land 
within  the  present  borders  of  Ohio  for 
example.  It  was  not  even  occupied  by  the 
Indians  for  long  periods  of  time.  Indeed, 
there  is  no  proven  occupancy  at  all,  except 
such  as  is  shown  by  the  Iroquois  passing 
over  its  northern  border  during  the  time 
of  their  inroads  against  the  western  In- 
dians whom  they  had  kept  in  such  con- 
stant fear  that  they  do  not  seem  to  have 
come  further  east  than  Chicago  in  Illinois 
and  St.  Joseph  in  Michigan.  After  1682, 
the  Iroquois  did  not  again  attack  the  wes- 
tern tribes.  The  Shawnees  and  Miamis 
especially  came  into  Ohio  about  1700  from 
the  west  while  the  Eries,  Senecas,  Wyan- 
dottes,  Sanduskies,  Ottawas,  Delawares 
and  Mingoes  came  into  Ohio  from  the 
north  and  east.  Their  lawful  and  natural 
right  to  the  soil  and  timber  of  Ohio  was 
scarcely  more  than  the  rights  of  “squat- 
ters.” They  had  the  right  which  occu- 


pancy gave  them  to  the  land  they  culti- 
vated and  such  improvements  as  they  had 
made.  It  was  imperative  that  the  world 
should  have  for  its  subsistence,  that  por- 
tion of  the  soil,  not  actually  used  by  the 
Indians  and  also  the  timber  from  which  to 
create  shelter.  The  white  man  had  an 
equal  right  in  occupancy  and  to  his  im- 
provements. They  were  continually  at 
war  with  themselves  for  the  possession  of 
hunting  grounds,  but  never  for  the  soil 
or  timber  and  civilized  use. 

When  the  Shawnees  left  the  south,  one 
portion  migrating  to  east  of  Ohio  and  the 
other  west  of  it,  they  were  not  known  to 
have  claimed  the  land  they  had  left.  When 
the  Miamis  left  Green  Bay  in  Wisconsin, 
Chicago  in  Illinois  and  St.  Joseph  in  Mich- 
igan and  took  up  their  habitat  on  the 
Wabash  in  Indiana  and  the  Maumee  in 
Ohio,  they  are  not  known  to  have  ever 
after  laid  claim  to  those  lands  which  they 
had  abandoned.  Although  a tribe  of  the 
Miamis  lived  in  Miami  county,  for  some 
years,  there  is  no  evidence  that  they  ever 
claimed  title  to  any  part  of  it.  He  seems 
to  have  been  contented  when  the  Shaw- 
nees, who  did  claim  it,  permitted  him  to 
hunt  here  unmolested. 

It  seems  clear  that  the  Indians  them- 
selves only  claimed  title  by  occupancy  and 
the  territory  he  claimed  was  never  well 
defined,  and  the  same  land  was  claimed  by 
different  tribes  and  it  was  these  adverse 
claims  that  often  led  to  their  wars. 

Much  of  the  land  in  Ohio  had  been  ceded 
to  the  United  States  by  the  Indians  who 
claimed  title  to  the  land  prior  to  1795.  It 
was  only  after  the  treaty  at  Greenville 
that  all  the  tribes  of  Ohio  had  agreed  to 
these  cessions  and  that  was  violated  by 
some  of  the  tribes  that  signed  it.  That  we 
sold  him  whiskey,  which  with  small  pox, 
largely  destroyed  him,  is  to  our  lasting  dis- 
grace. Our  traders  cheated  him  but  never 
with  the  sanction  of  the  government.  He 
was  sometimes  murdered  by  our  pioneers 
but  this  has  been  condoned  largely  as  a re- 


THE  DESIRE  TO  KNOW 


257 


taliatory  remedy  for  the  Indian’s  treach- 
ery. 

The  Choctaw  Indian  is  said  to  be  the 
richest  man  per  capita  on  the  earth  and 
this  could  not  have  happened  but  for  the 
fostering  care  of  the  United  States.  The 
contention  of  the  would-be  philanthropist 
that  the  Indian  has  not  been  treated  fairly, 
in  the  light  of  facts,  falls  to  the  ground. 

Thomas  Jelferson,  in  his  Virginia 
Notes,  p.  105,  published  in  1787,  inno- 
cently, but  unfortunately,  gave  standing  to 
the  gush  often  indulged  in  over  the  wrongs 
of  “Lo,  the  poor  Indian.”  He  published 
the  supposed  speech  of  Logan,  the  Mingo 
chief.  “I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say, 
if  ever  he  entered  Logan’s  cabin  hungry 
and  he  gave  him  not  meat ; if  he  ever  came 
cold  and  naked  and  he  clothed  him  not. 
Col.  Cresap,  last  Spring,  in  cold  blood  and 
unprovoked,  murdered  all  the  relatives  of 
Logan,  not  sparing  even  my  woman  and 
children.  There  is  not  a drop  of  my  blood 
in  the  veins  of  any  living  creature.”  Jef- 
ferson quotes  this  supposed  speech  and 
adds  that  Cresap  was  a “man  infamous 
for  his  many  murders,  he  had  committed 
against  this  injured  people.” 

The  critical  history  of  America,  ac- 
knowledged as  authority,  on  p.  711  pub- 
lishes a letter  from  Geo.  Rogers  Clarke,  in 
which  he  distintcly  states  that  Col.  Cresap 
was  in  his  command  at  the  time  of  the 
white  and  Indian  drunken  brawl,  30  miles 
below  Wheeling,  when  Logan’s  brother 
and  Logan’s  family  and  many  other  In- 
dians gathered  at  the  whiskey  store  and 
the  most  of  them  proceeded  to  consume 
fire  water,  sold  by  a man  by  the  name  of 
Greathouse.  One  of  the  drunken  Indians 
stole  a set  of  harness  and  was  making 
away  with  it  when  stopped  by  a white 
man,  probably  as  drunk  as  the  Indian, 
whereupon  the  Indian  struck  the  white 
man  and  the  murder  was  on.  It  is  not 
clear  whether  Greathouse  had  laid  plans 
for  such  a result,  but  it  is  clear  that  it  was 
no  place  for  women  and  children. 

Logan’s  supposed  speech  was  first  pub- 


lished in  the  Williamsburg,  Va.,  Gazette, 
on  February  4,  1775  and  afterward 

printed  in  a New  York  paper  with  impor- 
tant variations.  The  critical  history  says, 
“The  accuracy  of  either  version  depends 
upon  the  statement  of  Gen.  John  Gibson, 
the  interpreter.  Mr.  Jefferson  never  suc- 
ceeded in  justifying  himself  for  his  attack 
on  Col.  Cresap,  so  far  as  his  connection 
with  the  Logan  massacre  was  concerned, 
although  he  endeavored  to  do  so. 

This  example  is  the  principal  one  to 
which  the  sentimentalist  points  as  evi- 
dence of  the  inhumanity  of  the  whites  in 
their  treatment  of  the  Indian  and  in  the 
light  of  the  cold  facts  of  history,  its  main 
features  have  been  ruthlessly  misrepre- 
sented and  contorted  out  of  all  semblance 
of  truth.  Indeed  there  is  nothing  to  show 
that  Logan’s  brother  was  not  one  of  the 
drunken  brawlers.  The  unhappy  incident 
happened  during  the  Lord  Dunmore  war 
of  1774  when  border  spirit  ran  high. 

The  defeat  of  Cornstalk,  the  Shawnee 
chieftain,  at  Point  Pleasant,  Ohio,  where 
the  Kanawha  enters  the  Ohio,  during  the 
Lord  Dunmore  war  of  1774,  resulted  in 
the  great  Council  at  Pickaway  Plains,  in 
which  the  Indians  surrendered  all  claims 
to  the  lands  of  Kentucky.  At  that  time, 
there  were  not  to  exceed  2,000  white  peo- 
ple in  the  present  limits  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.  If  the  Indian  nature  for  atrocity 
should  have  scope  for  its  gratification,  it 
must  seek  the  white  victim  in  the  numer- 
ous white  settlements  of  Kentucky. 

The  first  to  break  the  treaty  of  Pick- 
away Plains  were  the  very  Shawnees  who 
made  the  promise  in  solemn  treaty  to  keep 
out  of  Kentucky.  The  Shawnees  of  Ohio, 
with  their  principal  rendezvous  at  Piqua 
(Boston)  in  Clarke  county  where  the  great 
Tecumseh  was  born,  were  the  most  blood 
thirsty  of  the  lot,  and  made  frequent  war- 
like incursions  into  the  “dark  and  bloody 
ground,”  between  the  time  of  the  treaty  on 
the  Pickaway  Plains  in  1774  and  1780. 
There  were  no  white  families  in  Miami 
and  adjoining  counties  upon  which  to  ex- 


258 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


pend  their  hostility.  In  retaliation  for 
these  atrocities,  George  Rogers  Clarke,  the 
greatest  military  genius  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghenies, at  that  time  organized  a force  of 
Kentuckians  and  came  to  the  Piqua  of 
Clarke  county  and  destroyed  it  in  1780. 
A brief  and  running  description  of  the  im- 
portant work  of  this  really  great  man  will 
not  be  inappropriate  at  this  juncture  in 
this  work. 

When  at  the  close  of  the  French  and 
English  war  in  1763,  already  recited,  the 
territory  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  was 
ceded  to  England,  King  George  III,  de- 
signed the  northwestern  territory  or  the 
States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wiscon- 
sin and  Michigan  to  be  kept  intact  as  a 
vast  hunting  ground  and  published  a proc- 
lamation declaring  it  “to  be  our  royal  will 
and  pleasure  * * * to  reserve  under  our 
will  and  pleasure  and  dominion  for  the  use 
of  the  said  Indians  * * * all  the  lands  and 
territories  lying  to  the  westward  of  the 
source  of  the  rivers  which  fall  into  the 
sea  from  the  west  and  northwest  * * * 
and  we  do  hereby  strictly  forbid  on  pain 
of  our  displeasure,  all  our  loving  subjects 
from  making  any  purchases  or  settle- 
merits  whatever,  or  taking  possession  of 
any  of  the  lands  above  reserved  without 
our  especial  leave  and  license.”  The  pro- 
visions of  this  proclamation  were  com- 
pletely ignored.  The  settlers  were  cutting 
down  the  forests,  destroying  the  game  and 
opening  up  farms.  The  Indians  became 
alarmed  and  the  Lord  Dun  more  war  fol- 
lowed which  was  soon  followed  by  our  war 
for  independence,  and  it  was  in  1777  that 
George  Rogers  Clarke,  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  over  six  feet  in  height,  by  profes- 
sion a surveyor,  born  near  Monticello, 
Virginia,  conceived  the  plan  of  conquer- 
ing the  northwest,  the  principal  settle- 
ments of  which  were  at  Detroit,  Vin- 
cennes, Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  occupied 
originally  by  the  French,  who  had  changed 
their  allegiance  to  King  George.  To  the 
French  population,  had  been  added  Eng- 
lish settlers  and  these  points  were  also 


the  headquarters  of  the  various  tribes  of 
Indians  who  had  joined  the  British  cause. 

In  August,  1777,  he  traveled  from  his 
home,  near  Louisville,  Kentucky,  to  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  and  had  a consultation 
with  Patrick  Henry,  then  governor,  who 
favored  his  plan  and  gave  him  a commis- 
sion as  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  permission 
to  recruit  his  force  in  Virginia.  In  May, 
1778,  he  had  collected  on^  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  all  backwoodsmen.  He  says,  “I 
set  out  from  Red  Stone  (Brownsville,  Pa.) 
the  12th  of  May,  leaving  the  country  in 
great  confusion  much  distressed  by  In- 
dians.” He  made  the  trip  in  flat  boats  and 
arrived  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio  (Louis- 
ville) early  in  June.  He  increased  his 
force  by  a few  volunteers  from  Kentucky 
and  again  floated  down  the  river,  until  he 
reached  the  present  site  of  Massac,  111., 
where  they  disembarked  and  marched  a 
distance  of  120  miles  to  Kaskaskia  at  a 
time  when  all  the  inhabitants,  about  500, 
were  in  attendance  upon  a dance  and 
merry  making  and  without  firing  a gun, 
the  station  was  captured  much  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  French  population. 

A part  of  the  command,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Bowman,  went  on  horse- 
back to  Cahokia,  some  sixty  miles,  where 
they  found  but  a half  dozen  English 
guards  at  the  block  house,  which  sur- 
rendered and  they  were  again  welcomed 
by  the  French  population. 

Clarke  was  confronted  with  the  expira- 
tion of  the  term  of  enlistment  of  his  men 
and  his  great  scheme  but  partially  accom- 
plished. He  succeeded  in  having  them  re- 
enlist and  says,  “Domestic  affairs  being 
partly  well  settled,  the  Indian  department 
came  next  the  object  of  my  attention  and 
of  the  greatest  importance.”  “They  were 
generally  at  war  against  us,  but  the 
French  and  the  Spainyards  appearing  so 
fond  of  us,  confused  them,  they  councilled 
with  the  French  traders,  to  know  what 
was  best  to  be  done,  and,  of  course,  was 
advised  to  come  and  solicit  for  peace,  and 
did  not  doubt  but  we  might  become  good 


THE  DESIRE  TO  KNOW 


259 


friends.”  Clarke  held  a council  with  them 
at  Cahokia  and  viewed  “the  amazing  num- 
ber of  savages  that  soon  flocked  into  the 
town  of  Cahokia  to  treat  for  peace  and  to 
hear  what  the  long  knives  had  to  say. 
Many  of  them,  500  miles  distant,  Chipo- 
ways,  Ottoways,  Potawatomies,  Puans, 
Sacks,  Foxes,  Sayges,  Tanways,  Mammies 
and  a number  of  other  nations,  all  living 
east  of  the  Mississippi  and  many  of  them 
at  war  against  us.” 

Early  in  January,  1779,  Clark  reached 
the  so-called  “drowned  lands”  of  the  Wa- 
bash in  his  march  against  Hamilton  at 
Vincennes,  after  the  most  desperate  situ- 
ations had  been  overcome  across  streams 
and  ice  on  his  way  across  Illinois.  On  Jan- 
uary 17th,  the  sunrise  gun  at  Vincennes 
was  heard  by  Clark’s  small  force  as  they 
lay  upon  a hillock  of  the  only  dry  ground 
in  the  neighborhood.  He  says  “from  the 
spot  we  now  lay  on  was  about  ten  miles  to 
town  and  every  foot  of  the  way  put  to- 
gether that  was  not  three  feet  and  up- 
wards under  water,  would  not  have  made 
the  length  of  two  miles  and  a half,  and  not 
a mouthful  of  provision.”  “On  the  21st 
it  rained  all  day.”  “No  dry  land  for  many 
leagues.”  The  half  frozen  and  half  fam- 
ished force,  the  water  often  to  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  tallest,  they  arrived  within  two 
miles  of  the  town  when  “a  creole  out 
shooting  ducks  was  taken  prisoner”  and 
from  him  learned  Hamilton  was  still  un- 
conscious of  his  danger. 

“I  resolved  to  appear  as  daring  as  pos- 
sible that  the  enemy  might  conceive  that 
we  were  very  numerous  and  probably  dis- 
courage them.” 

“To  the  Inhabitants  of  Post  St.  Vincent: 

“Gentlemen: — Being  now  within  two 
miles  of  your  village  with  my  army,  deter- 
mined to  take  your  fort,  this  night,  and 
not  being  willing  to  surprise  you,  I take 
this  method  to  request  such  of  you  as  are 
true  citizens  and  willing  to  enjoy  the  lib- 
erty I bring  you,  to  remain  still  in  your 
houses,  and  those,  if  any  there  be,  that  are 


friends  to  the  King,  will  instantly  repair 
to  the  fort  and  join  the  hair  buying  gen- 
eral and  fight  like  men,  and  if  any  such  as 
do  not  go  to  the  fort  shall  be  discovered 
afterwards,  they  may  depend  on  severe 
punishment.  On  the  contrary,  those  that 
are  true  friends  to  liberty  may  depend  on 
being  well  treated,  and  I once  more  re- 
quest them  to  keep  out  of  the  streets ; for 
every  one  I find  in  arms,  on  my  arrival,  I 
shall  treat  as  an  enemy. 

“G.  R.  CLARKE.” 

This  letter  was  read  to  the  people  of  the 
town,  outside  the  fort  which  was  on  a hill- 
ock, overlooking  the  town. 

Hamilton  was  totally  surprised,  after 
two  hours’  fighting  on  the  second  day,  be- 
ing February  24,  1779,  Hamilton  sent  out 
a flag  of  truce  requesting  a three  days’ 
cessation  of  hostilities,  Clark  responded  as 
follows : 

“Colonel  Clark’s  compliments  to  Mr. 
Hamilton  and  begs  leave  to  inform  him 
that  Colonel  Clark  will  not  agree  to  any 
other  terms  than  that  of  Mr.  Hamilton’s 
surrendering  himsellf  and  garrison  pris- 
oners at  war  at  discretion. 

“If  Mr.  Hamilton  is  desirous  of  confer- 
ring with  Col.  Clark,  he  will  meet  him  at 
the  church  with  Capt.  Helm. 

“C.  R.  CLARK.” 

“February  24,  1779.” 

Hamilton  sought  to  soften  the  terms  but 
Clark  insisted  and  “Toward  the  close  of 
the  evening”  articles  were  signed  in  which 
Fort  Sackville  was  to  be  surrendered  the 
following  morning,  which  was  accordingly 
done. 

The  march  of  Clark  against  Vincennes 
in  the  dead  of  winter,  across  230  miles  of 
land  constantly  flooded,  with  few  provi- 
sions, was  one  of  the  most  heroic  feats  in 
all  military  history.  The  Northwest  now 
belonged  to  the  colonies,  through  the  cour- 
age and  genius  of  one  man,  who  should 
have  lived  ever  after  from  his  country’s 
gratitude.  After  important  services  in 


260 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  Indian  wars  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio, 
Clark  formed  the  drink  habit  and  died  in 
poverty. 

Before  his  death,  the  State  of  Virginia, 
as  an  amend  for  their  neglect  of  Clark, 
voted  him  a beautiful  sword  and  appointed 
a committee  to  present  it.  He  seized  it 
and  broke  it  over  his  knee,  exclaiming,  “I 
gave  Virginia  my  sword.  I cannot  use 
one  now.  I want  bread.” 

Within  a year  after  Clark’s  capture  of 
Vincennes,  his  indomitable  spirit  had  or- 
ganized 1,000  Kentucky  backwoodsmen 
and  he  was  on  the  march  through  Fort 
Washington,  (Cincinnati)  and  along  the 
general  course  of  the  Great  Miami,  north- 
ward to  Dayton  and  then  up  the  Mad  river 
to  Piqua  in  Clark  county  where  he  fell  on 
this  principal  town  of  the  Shawnees  and 
burned  it,  at  the  same  time,  destroying  the 
fields  of  maize  planted  by  the  Indians. 
The  Shawnees  abandoned  their  Clark 
county  seat  and  moved  to  Piqua  in  Miami 
county,  from  which  point  they  continued 
to  send  murderous  forays  into  the  “dark 
and  bloody  ground”  being  outfitted  at  the 
store  kept  by  a Frenchman,  at  Loramie, 
nine  miles  southwest  of  Sidney,  which 
must  always  be  kept  distinct  from  Lora- 
mie creek  on  the  Johnston  farm  two  miles 
north  of  Piqua.  Two  years  after  his  chas- 
tisement of  the  Shawnees,  Clark  with  a 
thousand  Kentuckians  came  near  his  1780 
trail  as  far  as  Dayton,  crossed  the  Mad 
river  there  instead  of  following  its  course 
as  before  but  continued  on  the  course  of 
the  Miami  northward.  The  forests  were 
'continuous,  except  a tract  of  prairie  land 
in  the  north  part  of  Bethel  township,  and 
he  was  compelled  to  cut  down  trees  along 
most  of  the  distance  in  order  that  his  sup- 
plies might  be  hauled  through  for  the 
subsistence  of  his  men. 

He  entered  the  present  confines  of  Mi- 
ami county,  at  the  place  that  the  east  Troy 
and  Dayton  pike  enters  the  county  at  the 
southern  dividing  line  between  the  farms 
of  John  S.  Miller  and  D.  C.  Shaffer  in 
Bethel  township.  His  course  from  this 


point  was  near  the  bluff  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  cutting  a road  through  the  tim- 
ber to  be  seen  for  many  years  afterward 
as  a streak  of  light,  walled  with  timber. 
At  the  old  Col.  Woodward  farm  on  section 
29  in  Bethel  township,  he  took  the  present 
route  of  the  Troy  and  Dayton  east  turn- 
pike and  followed  it,  through  Elizabeth 
and  Staunton  township  keeping  straight 
north  from  near  the  Broadford  through 
what  afterward  became  Staunton,  past  the 
foot  of  the  hill  at  the  present  Evans  and 
Meredith  places,  opposite  Troy  and  along 
the  foot  of  the  raised  land  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  until  they  had  reached  a point 
on  the  river  opposite  Eldean.  Coe’s  Ford 
was  located  at  this  point  over  which  he 
crossed  his  force  to  the  west  side.  He  fol- 
lowed the  general  course  of  the  Troy  and 
Piqua  west  side  turnpike  through  Concord 
and  Washington  townships. 

The  story  of  this  exploit  has  been,  for- 
tunately, told  in  terse  and  graphic  manner, 
by  Abraham  Thomas,  who  was  a member 
of  the  expedition  and  afterward  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  Miami  county.  The  fol- 
lowing account  was  published  in  the  old 
Troy  Times,  that  did  so  much  to  preserve 
much  of  the  earlier  history  of  the  county. 

“In  the  year  1782,  I again  volunteered 
in  an  expedition,  under  General  Clark, 
with  the  object  of  destroying  some  Indian 
villages,  about  Piqua  on  the  Great  Miami 
river.  On  this  occasion  nearly  1,400  men 
marched  up  the  Kentucky  river.  We 
crossed  the  Ohio  at  the  present  site  of  Cin- 
cinnati where  our  last  year’s  stockade  had 
been  kept  up  and  the  people  resided  in  log 
cabins.  We  proceeded  immediately  north- 
ward through  the  woods  without  regard  to 
our  former  trail  (the  Clark  trail  of  1780) 
and  crossed  Mad  river  not  far  from  the 
present  city  of  Dayton  and  kept  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  and  crossed  four  miles 
south  of  the  Piqua  towns.  Shortly  after 
gaining  the  bottoms  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  a party  of  Indians  with  their  squaws 
on  horseback  came  out  of  the  trail  that  led 
to  the  present  site  of  Greenville.  On  ar- 


THE  DESIRE  TO  KNOW 


261 


riving  at  Piqua,  we  found  that  the  Indians 
had  fled  from  their  villages  leaving  most 
of  their  effects  behind.  During  the  fol- 
lowing night,  I joined  a party  to  break  up 
the  encampment  of  Indians  said  to  be  ly- 
ing at  a place  called  the  French  store. 
We  soon  caught  a Frenchman  on  horse- 
back, tied  him  to  a horse,  for  our  guide 
and  arrived  at  the  place  in  the  night.  The 
Indians  had  taken  the  alarm  and  cleared 
out.  We,  however  broke  up  and  burned 
the  Frenchman’s  store  which  for  a long 
time  had  been  a place  of  outfit  for  Indian 
marauders,  and  returned  to  the  main 
body.  Early  in  the  morning,  many  of  our 
men  were  stocked  with  plunder.  After 
burning  and  otherwise  destroying  about 
upper  and  lower  Piqua  towns,  we  com- 
menced our  return  march.  In  this  attack, 
five  Indians  were  killed  during  the  expedi- 
tion laid  in  Piqua.  The  Indians  lurked 
around  the  camp  firing  random  shots  from 
the  hazel  thickets  without  doing  any  in- 
jury but  two  men  who  were  in  search  of 
their  stray  horses  were  fired  upon  and  se- 
verely wounded.  One  of  them  died  shortly 
'afterward  and  was  buried  at  what  is  now 
called  Coe’s  Ford,  where  we  crossed  the 
Miami  on  our  return.  The  other,  Captain 
McCracken,  lived  until  he  reached  the  site 
of  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  buried.  On 
this  expedition,  we  had  with  us,  Captain 
William  Barbee,  afterward  Capt.  Barbee, 
one  of  our  prominent  neighbors  in  Miami 
county,  a most  worthy  and  brave  man 
with  whom  I have  marched  many  a day 
and  finally  moved  with  him  to  Ohio. 

From  this  time  on,  until  after  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  country  had  been  secured, 
1783,  and  for  some  years  afterward,  no 
Indian  tribes  occupied  the  Miami  county 
country.  The  Shawnees  who  had  occu- 
pied Piqua,  before  Clark  burned  it,  had 
moved  to  the  Wabash  country  and  from 
there  organized  forays  into  Kentucky,  and 
against  the  few  white  settlements  of 
southern  Ohio.  In  these  incursions  of  the 
Shawnees,  they  were  joined  by  the  Otta- 
was,  Pottawatomies,  Wyandotte,  Dela- 


wares, Miamis,  and  Wees,  all  of  northern 
Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  the  Cherokees  who 
then  occupied  the  Scioto  and  Muskingum 
country.  Between  the  year,  1783,  when 
we  became  free,  for  the  next  thirteen 
years,  until  1795,  was  a period  of  sanguin- 
ary Indian  wars,  during  all  of  which  time, 
no  white  settlements  were  made  within  the 
present  limits  of  Miami  county.  It  is  of 
this  period  we  will  write  in  the  next 
chapter. 

On  the  morning  of  August  20,  1794, 
General  Wayne  on  his  campaign  in  the  In- 
dian wilderness,  advanced  with  the  whole 
army  from  his  camp  at  Roche  de  Boeuf,  at 
the  head  of  the  Maumee  Rapids,  according 
to  a plan  of  march  prepared  by  his  young 
aide  de  camp,  Lieutenant  William  Henry 
Harrison.  He  had  proceeded  about  5 miles 
when  they  were  smitten  with  a terrible 
volley  of  bullets  from  a concealed  foe,  and 
compelled  to  fall  back.  They  were  on  the 
border  of  a vast  prairie,  at  a dense  wood, 
in  which  a tornado  had  prostrated  many 
trees,  making  the  movements  of  mounted 
men  very  difficult,  and  formed  an  excellent 
cover  for  the  foe  who  were  composed  of 
Canadians  and  Indians,  2,000  in  number 
posted  on  their  lines,  within  supporting 
distance  of  each  other.  But  Wayne’s 
troops  fell  upon  them  with  fearful  energy, 
and  made  them  flee  toward  the  British  fort 
Miami,  below,  like  a herd  of  frightened 
deer  for  cover.  In  one  hour,  the  victory 
was  complete.  The  Indians  left  forty  of 
their  number  dead  in  the  pathway  of  their 
flight.  By  the  side  of  each  dead  body,  lay 
a musket  and  bayonet  from  British  ar- 
mories. Wayne  lost  in  killed  and  wounded 
133  men ; the  loss  of  his  foes  was  not  as- 
certained. On  the  battle  ground,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Maumee  Rapids  is  a limestone 
rock  on  which  are  numerous  carvings  of 
birds’  feet.  It  is  a stone  upon  which  Me- 
sa-sa,  or  Turkey  Foot,  a renowned  chief, 
leaped  when  he  saw  his  line  of  dusky  war- 
riors giving  way,  and  by  voice  and  gesture 
endeavored  to  make  them  stand  firm.  He 
fell,  pierced  by  a musket  ball  and  died  by 


262 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  side  of  the  rock.  Members  of  this  tribe 
carved  turkeys’  feet  upon  the  stone  in 
commemoration  of  him,  and  for  many 
years,  men,  women  and  children  passing 
there,  would  linger  at  the  stone,  place 
dried  beef,  parched  corn  and  peas,  or  some 
cheap  trinket  upon  it  and  calling  on  the 
name  of  Me-sa-sa  weep  piteously.  The 
carvings  perpetuate  the  English  name  of 
the  chief.  During  the  42nd  National  En- 
campment at  Toledo  and  during  the  pre- 
ceding year  of  preparation  therefor,  this 
rock  was  visited  by  many  thousands  of 
sight-seers.  As  Executive  Director  of 
that  Encampment,  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  con- 
duct many  of  those  Avho  came  during  the 
year  to  make  their  arrangements.  It  con- 
tinues to  be  visited  by  all  sight-seers. 

The  entire  command  of  Gen.  Wayne  was 
900  men  while  the  Indians  and  Canadians 
numbered  2,000.  This  battle  led  to  the 
Treaty  of  Greenville,  signed  on  August  3, 
1795,  signed  by  the  Wyandotts,  180;  Dela- 
wares, 381 ; Shawnees,  143,  Ottawas,  45 ; 
Chippewas,  46 ; Pottawatomies,  240 ; Mi- 
ami and  El  Rivers,  73 ; Weas  and  Planke- 
shaws,  12 ; Kickapoos  and  Kaslcaskia,  10 ; 
making  a total  of  1130,  and  thus  the  soil 
of  Miami  county,  for  the  first  time  is  open 
for  settlement. 

MAJOR  CAMPBELL  TO  GENERAL  WAYNE 

Miami  River,  Aug.  21,  1794. 

Sir:  An  army  of  the  United  States  of 

America,  said  to  be  under  your  command, 
having  taken  post  on  the  banks  of  the 
Miami,  for  upwards  of  the  last  twenty- 
four  hours,  almost  within  the  reach  of  the 
guns  of  this  fort,  being  a post  belonging 
to  his  Majesty,  the  King  of  Great  Britain, 
occupied  by  his  Majesty’s  troops,  and 
which  I have  the  honor  to  command,  it  be- 
comes my  duty  to  inform  myself,  as  speed- 
ily as  possible,  in  what  light  I am  to  view 
your  making  such  near  approaches  to  this 
garrison.  I have  no  hesitation,  on  my 
part,  to  say,  that  I know  of  no  war  exist- 
ing between  Great  Britain  and  America. 


I have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  and  very  humble 
servant, 

WILLIAM  CAMPBELL, 

Major  24th  Regiment,  commanding  a 
British  Post  on  the  bank  of  the  Miami. 
To  Major  General  Wayne,  etc. 

GENERAL  WAYNE  TO  MAJOR  CAMPBELL 

Camp  on  the  Banks  of  the  Miami, 
August  21,  1794. 

Sir : — I have  received  your  letter  of  this 
date,  requiring  from  me  the  motives  which 
have  moved  the  army  under  my  command, 
to  the  position  they  at  present  occupy,  far 
within  the  acknowledged  jurisdiction  of 
the  United  States  of  America. 

Without  questioning  the  authority,  or 
the  propriety,  Sir,  of  your  interrogatory, 
I think  I may,  without  breach  of  decorum, 
observe  to  you,  that  were  you  entitled  to 
an  answer,  the  most  full  and  satisfactory 
one  was  announced  to  you,  from  the  muz- 
zles of  my  small  arms,  yesterday  morning, 
in  the  action  against  the  hordes  of  sav- 
ages in  the  vicinity  of  your  post,  which 
terminated  gloriously  to  the  American 
arms,  but  had  it  continued  till  the  Indians, 
etc.,  were  driven  under  the  influence  of  the 
post  and  guns  you  mention,  they  would  not 
have  much  impeded  the  progress  of  the 
victorious  army  under  my  command,  as  no 
such  post  was  established  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  war,  between 
the  Indians  and  the  United  States. 

I have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  and  very 
humble  servant, 

ANTHONY  WAYNE, 
Major  General,  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Federal  Army. 

To  Major  William  Campbell,  etc. 

MAJOR  CAMPBELL  TO  GENERAL  WAYNE 

Miami  Fort,  August  22,  1794. 

Sir: — Although  your  letter  of  yester- 
day’s date  fully  authorizes  me  to  any  act  of 


THE  FOURTH  COURT  HOUSE  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 

Now  occupied  by  the  Troy  postoffice.  The  first  court  was  held  in  the  house  of  Peter  Felix  in  Staun- 
ton, until  Dec.,  1908  ; then  in  the  Benjamin  Overfield  house  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Mulberry,  until 
1824  ; then  in  the  court  house  on  the  public  square  until  1845 ; then  in  the  above  building:  in  1888. 


SITE  OF  FIRST  STOCKADE  AT  STAUNTON 


THE  DESIRE  TO  KNOW 


267 


hostility  against  the  army  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  this  neighborhood, 
under  your  command,  yet,  still  anxious  to 
prevent  that  dreadful  decision,  which,  per- 
haps, is  not  intended  to  be  appealed  to,  by 
either  of  our  countries.  I have  forborne 
for  these  two  days  past,  to  resent  the  in- 
sults you  have  offered  the  British  flag,  fly- 
ing at  this  fort,  by  approaching  it  within 
pistol  shot  of  my  works,  not  only  singly, 
but  in  numbers,  with  arms  in  their  hands. 
Neither  is  it  my  wish  to  wage  war  with 
individuals,  but  should  you,  after  this,  con- 
tinue to  approach  my  post  in  the  threat- 
ening manner  you  are  at  this  moment  do- 
ing, my  indispensable  duty  to  my  king  and 
country,  and  the  honor  of  my  profession, 
will  oblige  me  to  have  recourse  to  those 
measures  which  thousands  of  either  na- 
tion, may  hereafter  have  cause  to  regret, 
and  which,  I solemnly  appeal  to  God,  I 
have  used  my  utmost  endeavors  to  arrest. 

I have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  with  much 
respect. 

Your  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servant, 
WILLAM  CAMPBELL, 
Major  24th  Regiment,  commanding 

Fort  Miami 

To  Major  General  Wayne,  etc.,  etc. 
GENERAL  WAYNE  TO  MAJOR  CAMPBELL 
Sir: — In  your  letter  of  the  21st  instant, 
you  declare  “I  have  no  hesitation  on  my 
part  to  say,  that  I know  of  no  war  exist- 
ing between  Great  Britain  and  America.” 
I,  on  my  part,  declare  the  same,  and  that 
the  only  cause  I have  to  entertain  a con- 
trary idea,  at  this  time,  is  the  hostile  act 
you  are  now  in  the  commission  of,  i.  e.,  by 
recently  taking  post  far  within  the  well 
known  and  acknowledged  limits  of  the 
United  States,  and  erecting  a fortification 
in  the  heart  of  the  settlements  of  the  In- 
dian tribes,  now  at  war  with  the  United 
States.  This,  sir,  appears  to  be  an  act  of 
the  highest  aggression,  and  destructive  to 
the  peace  and  interest  of  the  Union. 
Hence  it  becomes  my  duty  to  desire,  and 
demand,  in  the  name  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  that  you  immediately 
desist  from  any  further  act  of  hostility,  or 


aggression,  by  forbearing  to  fortify,  and 
by  withdrawing  the  troops,  artillery  and 
stores,  under  your  orders  and  direction, 
forthwith;  and  removing  to  the  nearest 
post  occupied  by  his  Britannic  Majesty’s 
troops  at  the  peace  of  1783 ; and  which 
you  will  be  permitted  to  do  unmolested  by 
the  troops  under  my  command. 

I am,  with  very  great  respect.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  and  very 
humble  servant, 
ANTHONY  WAYNE. 
Major  William  Campbell,  etc. 

MAJOR  CAMPBELL  TO  GENERAL  WAYNE 
Fort  Miami,  22,  August,  1794. 

Sir: — I have  this  moment  the  honor  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  in 
answer  to  which  I have  only  to  say,  that 
being  placed  here  in  the  command  of  a 
British  post,  and  acting  in  a military  ca- 
pacity only,  I cannot  enter  into  any  dis- 
cussion, either  on  the  right  or  impropriety 
of  my  occupying  my  present  position. 
These  are  matters  that  I conceive  will  be 
best  left  to  the  ambassadors  of  our  differ- 
ent, nations.  Having  said  this  much,  per- 
mit me  to  inform  you  that  I certainly  will 
not  abandon  this  post,  at  the  summons  of 
anv  person  whatever,  until  T receive  or- 
ders for  that  purpose  from  those  I have 
the  honor  to  serve  under : or  the  fortune  of 
war  should  oblige  me.  I must  still  adhere, 
sir.  to  the  purpose  of  my  letter,  this  mora- 
ine-. to  desire  that  your  armv,  or  individ- 
uals belonging  to  it.  will  not  approach 
within  reach  of  my  cannon,  without  ex- 
porting the  consequences  attending  it. 

Although  I have  said,  in  the  former  part 
of  mv  letter,  that  my  situation  here  is 
totally  military,  yet  let  me  add,  sir,  that  I 
am  much  deceived  if  his  Majesty,  the  King 
of  Great  Britain,  had  not  a post  on  this 
river  at  and  prior  to  the  period  you  men- 
tion. 

T have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  the 
greatest  respect, 

Your  most  obedient  and  very 

humble  servant, 
WILLIAM  CAMPBELL, 
Major  24th,  Regiment,  commanding 
at  Fort  Miami. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  MIAMI  INDIANS 


The  greater  divisions  of  the  North 
American  Indians  were  distributed:  the 
Esquimaux  north  of  the  16"  parallel  of 
latitude;  the  Algonquins  between  the  16" 
and  24"  parallel  of  latitude  and  the  Mo- 
bilians  and  Cherokees  between  the  latter 
meridian  to  the  gulf,  all  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. The  savage  Comanche  lived  in 
the  Southwest  between  the  Mississippi  and 
Rockies  and  the  Dakotas  in  the  northwest 
while  the  Californians,  Klemaths  and 
Selish  dwelt  between  the  Rockies  and  the 
Pacific  ocean. 

To  the  Algonquin  division  belonged  the 
six  nations,  Shawnees,  Wyandottes,  Dela- 
wares, Miamis  and  many  other  tribes. 
The  Twightwees  found  on  the  Miami  river 
at  Piqua  in  1849  have  been  frequently  re- 
ferred to  as  a tribe  of  Miami  Indians, 
which,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Mi- 
amis  were  a tribe  of  the  Algonquin  race 
seems  an  improper  designation  and  we 
shall,  therefore,  refer  to  them  as  a branch 
of  the  Miami  Indian. 

The  first  tribal  relation  in  history  comes 
from  the  Bible  when  the  twelve  sons  of 
Jacob  became  the  head  of  each.  The  fact 
that  our  history  of  ten  of  these  tribes  is  not 
recorded  after  they  crossed  the  Euphrates 
river,  has  designated  them  as  the  “Ten 
lost  tribes”  and  this  along  with  many  other 
reasons  has  been  cited  as  corroboration 
of  the  theory  that  the  North  American  In-? 
dians  are  the  descendants  of  these  Israel- 
ites. This  theory  has  been  discussed  at 
some  length  in  a former  chapter  of  this 
work,  in  which  I indicated  that  this  his- 
268 


torical  ice  was  too  thin  to  skate  on  with 
safety. 

In  the  absence  of  any  real  census  of  the 
Indian  population  in  the  beginning,  their 
actual  number  is  somewhat  conjectural 
but  it  is  certain  that  the  Algonquins  were 
at  least,  as  numerous  as  all  other  Indian 
nations  combined  and  that  the  Miami  In- 
dians were  the  most  numerous  tribe  of  the 
Algonquin  nation. 

The  first  mention  in  history  of  the  Mi- 
ami Indians  is  made  by  Alonez,  1658,  a 
French  Jesuit,  who  seems  to  have  made 
the  voyage  in  a small  vessel  over  the 
northern  lakes,  until  he  reached  the  Fox 
river  country  in  the  present  state  of  Wis- 
consin, and  set  up  a mission  there  for  the 
conversion  of  the  Miami  Indians  whom  he 
found  there.  The  Chief,  when  he  was 
about  was  always  accompanied  by  two 
guards  which  added  dignity  to  his  posi- 
tion. At  that  time,  a branch  of  the  Mi- 
amis  had  a habitat  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Chicago  river  where  Chicago  now  stands 
and  another  branch  lived  at  St.  Joseph  in 
the  south  western  portion  of  the  present 
State  of  Michigan. 

Ten  years  after  the  Jesuit,  Alonez,  or 
1668,  about  whom  there  seems  to 
be  little  account,  had  established  his  mis- 
sion and  in  the  meantime  had  departed, 
Marquette  and  Joliet  found  his  cross  there 
and  made  friends  with  the  Miamis,  two  of 
whom  accompanied  them  to  the  Wisconsin 
river  down  which  they  floated  into  the 
Mississippi  river  on  their  famous  voyage 
of  2,500  miles  heretofore  described  in  this 
work.  These  discoverers  estimated  the 


THE  MIAMI  INDIANS 


269 


Miamis  at  6,000  warriors  which  meant  a 
population  in  all  about  40,000. 

The  following  estimates  of  Indian  popu- 
lation in  the  United  States  is  copied  from 
Royce’s  Indian  Land  Cessions.  “Perhaps 
the  best  estimate  of  the  Indian  population 
of  the  United  States  (exclusive  of  Alaska) 
at  different  periods  up  to  1876  are  those 
given  by  Honorable  John  Eaton.  His  sum- 
mary is  as  follows: 

1820 — Report  of  Morse  on  Indian 

Affairs  471,036 

1 825 — Report  of  Secretary  of  War  129,366 
1 829— Report  of  Secretary  of  War  312,930 
1 R84 — Report  of  Secretary  of  War  312,610 

1 836 —  Report  of  Superintendent  of 

Indian  Affairs 253,464 

1837 —  Renort  of  Superintendent  of 

Indian  Affairs 302,498 

I860 — Report  of  H.  R.  Schoolcraft  288,229 
1853 — Report  of  United  States 

Census,  1850  400,764 

1855 — Report  of  Indian  Office 314,622 

1857 — Report  of  H.  R,  Schoolcraft  379,264 

I860 — Report  of  Indian  Office 254,300 

1865 — Report  of  Indian  Office 294,574 

1870 — Report  of  United  States 

Census  313,712 

1875 —  Report  of  Indian  Office 305,068 

1876 —  Report  of  Indian  Office 291,882 

Until  after  the  vear  1700.  there  is  no 

doubt  but  that  the  Miami  Indian  remained 
in  the  localities  where  he  was  found  and 
it  seems  eauallv  certain  that  this  condition 
continued  until  1725.  when  the  St.  Joseph 
Indians  and  the  French  at  Detroit  had 
their  first  difference  over  the  fact  that  the 
Miamis  had  commenced  trading  with  the 
English  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash. 

Some  time  between  1725  and  1749  the 
exact  date  of  which  it  seems  impossible  to 
determine,  the  Miami  Indians  came  down 
to  the  Wabash  and  the  Maumee.  A branch 
of  the  Miamis.  the  Twightwees,  were  locat- 
ed at  Piqua  on  the  Miami  as  early  as  1749. 
In  June,  1752,  the  French  and  Indians 
from  northern  Ohio  practically  destroyed 
this  branch  of  the  Miamis  and  thereafter, 
the  principal  habitat  of  the  Miamis  was 


near  Ft.  Wayne  in  Indiana  and  Toledo  in 
Ohio.  He  may  have  been  in  the  battle  of 
the  Kanawka  in  1774,  during  the  Lord 
Dunmore  war  but  if  he  was,  he  left  at  once 
after  that  battle  and  did  not  participate  in 
the  treaty  on  Pickaway  Plains.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  he  accompanied  the  Shawnees 
and  other  tribes  during  the  bloody  period, 
on  frequent  incursions  into  Kentucky  be- 
tween 1780  and  1795,  but  does  not  seem 
to  have  developed  any  great  chieftain  be- 
fore Little  Turtle  rises  into  pre-eminent 
leadership  about  1790. 

Historv  does  not  show  him  to  have  been 
a man  of  high  motives  or  of  much  sincer- 
ity in  his  friendships  with  either  his  sav- 
age brethren  or  with  the  whites.  From 
1658,  the  time  of  his  discovery  up  to  1720, 
h°  was  the  friend  of  the  French  and  then 
of  the  English  up  to  1795.  At  the  latter 
date,  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville.  Little 
Turtle,  in  a dozen  or  more  eloquent 
speerTies.  expressed  sentiments  of  respect 
and  friendship  and  promised  undving  alle- 
giance to  the  Great  Father  of  the  fifteen 
Ores,  meaning  the  President  of  the  fifteen 
States  then  in  the  United  States  which  he 
kept.  It  was  the  battle  of  the  Thames 
where  the  Indian  sun  east  of  the  Mississ- 
ippi went  down  forever,  and  the  Miami  In- 
dian became  an  admitted  ward  of  the 
United  States,  to  be  treated  bv  the  govern- 
ment from  then  to  the  present  in  the  most 
generous  and  humane  manner. 

In  the  following  brief  history  of  the 
treaties  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Miami  Indians  and  other  tribes,  the  mo- 
tive of  the  United  States  is  clearly  devel- 
oped on  the  highest  plane  of  humanitar- 
ianism.  It  has  been  clearly  shown  in  this 
work  that  treaties  were  of  small  signifi- 
cance so  long  as  the  boundaries  between 
the  Indian  lands  themselves  were  unde- 
termined. To  the  task  of  perfecting  the 
Tp^ian  titles,  the  United  States  now  com- 
mitted itself  and  being  finally  accom- 
plished. it  gave  the  Indian  property  which 
made  him  a rich  man  which  was  impossi- 
ble under  his  former  condition.  He  now 


270 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


possessed  a property  to  which  no  other 
tribe  laid  claim  and  which  when  purchased 
by  the  United  States  the  title  acquired  was 
good  and  undisputed.  The  sentimentalist 
who  harps  on  the  robbery  of  the  Indians 
by  the  United  States  and  commisserates 
the  awful  treatment  of  “Lo,  the  poor  In- 
dian” belongs,  in  my  opinion,  to  the  same 
class  of  men  who,  in  this  year  of  1917, 
fraught  with  such  weighty  responsibili- 
ties, is  preaching  pacifism,  while  Germany 
murders  our  people  by  the  thousands  on 
the  free  highways  of  the  seas. 

The  Miami  Indians  held  treaties  with 
the  United  States  singly  and  in  conjunc- 
tion with  other  tribes  for  the  purpose  of 
ceding  and  perfecting  titles  to  lands  at  the 
following  times  and  places. 

At  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  June  7,  1803. 

At  Vincennes,  Indiana,  August  21,  1805. 

At  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  September  30, 
1807. 

At  St.  Marys,  Ohio,  October  6,  1818. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  Mississenewa,  Indi- 
ana, Oct.  23,  1826. 

At  the  forks  of  the  Wabash,  Indiana, 
October  23,  1834. 

At  the  forks  of  the  Wabash,  Indiana, 
November  6,  1838. 

At  the  forks  of  the  Wabash,  Indiana, 
November  28,  1840. 

This  last  treaty  conveyed  to  the  United 
States  “The  Residue  of  the  Big  Reserve” 
in  which  the  Miami  Indians  relinquished 
all  their  lands  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  for 
lands  on  the  Kaw  river  in  Kansas,  just 
west  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  except  a 
few  thousand  acres  of  the  rich  lands  of  the 
Wabash  reserved  for  those  of  the  tribe 
who  did  not  wish  to  move  west  with  the 
main  body. 

Thirty  years  afterward,  in  1870,  I at- 
tended a social  function  at  the  house  of  a 
Mr.  Chaffee,  in  Kansas  City,  formerly  of 
Miami  county,  and  was  introduced  to  a 
beautiful  young  lady  of  medium  height, 
with  pure  blond  hair,  deep  blue  eyes  and 
very  light  complexion.  The  young  lady 
had  attended  the  best  schools  of  the  day, 


was  a good  performer  on  the  piano,  a fine 
and  vivacious  conversationalist  with  an 
exquisite  piquancy  of  manner.  She  in- 
formed me  that  her  ancestors  were  at  one 
time  residents  of  Miami  county.  To  my 
inquiry  in  reference  to  her  family  rela- 
tions here,  she  said  they  had  emigrated  in 
a body,  in  1840,  and  now  resided  opposite 
Kansas  City  and  were  formerly  and  then, 
known  as  the  Miami  tribe  of  Indians.  I 
endeavored  to  assume  the  stoicism  of  her 
ancestors  to  suppress  my  surprise  at  the 
statement  of  this  charming  young  lady, 
who  was  looking  up  at  me  with  laughing 
eyes.  That  I might  not  seem  utterly  help- 
less in  her  hands,  I said  “My  information 
in  relation  to  the  complexion  of  the  North 
American  Indians  seems  to  be  hopelessly 
in  error,  judging  from  the  representative 
of  that  race  now  beside  me.”  With  quick 
wit  she  instantly  retorted,  “Civilization  is 
to  blame  for  the  difference  between  your 
conception  and  the  reality.”  She  was  as 
happy  in  her  badinage  as  she  was  piquant 
in  manner.  I visited  at  her  home  and 
found  them  living  under  the  best  of  mod- 
ern conditions,  her  people  in  successful 
trade  and  in  the  community  sense  a rich 
people.  They  retained  their  tribal  rela- 
tions, to  secure  the  increase  on  the  fertile 
land  of  the  Kaw  which  they  owned,  which 
they  reasoned  would  be  dissipated  if 
owned  in  severalty,  in  which  they  dis- 
played good  business  judgment. 

I opine  that  every  white  man  that  came 
into  this  Miami  Valley  would  have  been 
captured  without  resistance,  if  all  of  the 
Indians  here  then  had  been  of  the  same 
type  as  my  sprightly  acquaintance  and 
afterward,  my  good  friend,  above  de- 
scribed. 

From  a population  of  40,000  souls  on  the 
Fox,  Chicago  and  St.  Joseph  rivers  they 
were  then  reduced  to  1000  most  of  whom 
were  more  white  than  red  and  getting 
more  so,  each  year. 

On  March  3,  1872,  the  Congress  enacted 
a law  providing  for  the  sale  of  the  Miami 
reservation  of  70,000  acres,  for  which  they 


THE  MIAMI  INDIANS 


271 


were  fully  compensated  with  lands  merged 
with  the  Kaskaskias  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory. 

On  May  5,  1882,  the  Congress  made  ad- 
ditional provision  for  unsold  Miami  lands 
in  Kansas. 

For  more  than  thirty  years,  the  Miami 
Indians  had  lived  in  the  Indian  Territory 
in  tribal  relations  until  two  years  ago  and 
now,  1917,  numbering  but  sixty  in  all  they 
are  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

I append  the  following  official  letters  in 
relation  to  this  now  extinct  tribe  from 
whom  our  river  and  county  derived  their 
name. 

Washington,  October  19,  1916. 
Mr.  Frank  M.  Sterrett, 

Troy,  Ohio. 

Sir : — 

Receipt  is  acknowledged  of  your  letter 
of  September  6,  1916,  in  which  you  ask 
for  information  as  to  whether  the  Miami 
Indians  of  Ohio  still  retain  their  tribal  re- 
lations and  the  address  of  their  Chief,  etc. 

In  answer,  you  are  advised  that  this  Al- 
gonquin tribe  was  first  found  to  be  living 
near  the  mouth  of  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin. 
Thence  they  withdrew  into  the  Mississippi 
valley,  and  about  1670  were  living  at  the 
headwaters  of  the  Fox  river,  Wisconsin. 
Some  of  the  tribe  moved  southeast  and  lo- 
cated on  the  Wabash  in  Indiana  and  in 
northwestern  Ohio.  They  sent  out  colonies 
to  the  east  and  formed  settlements  on  the 
Miami  river,  Ohio,  and  perhaps,  as  far 
east  as  the  Scioto.  This  country  they  held 
until  the  peace  of  1763,  when  they  re- 
treated to  Indiana  and  the  abandoned 
country  was  occupied  by  the  Shawnee  In- 
dians. However,  they  took  a prominent 
part  in  all  the  Indian  wars  in  the  Ohio 
valley  until  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812. 
Soon  afterward,  they  began  to  sell  their 
lands  under  treaties  with  the  United 
States,  and  by  1827  had  disposed  of  most 
of  their  holdings  in  Indiana,  and  had 
agreed  to  remove  to  Kansas.  Later,  they 
went  to  Indian  territory,  where  the  rem- 
nant, which  became  confederated  with  the 


Peoria  tribe,  now  resides  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Ira  C.  Deaver,  superintendent  of 
the  Seneca  Indian  school,  Wyandotte,  Ok- 
lahoma. The  population  of  the  Peoria  Mi- 
ami tribe  is  shown  at  393,  including  men, 
women  and  children. 

A considerable  part  of  the  tribe,  com- 
monly known  as  Meshingonesia’s  band, 
continued  to  reside  on  a reservation  in 
Wabash  county,  Indiana,  until  1872,  when 
the  land  was  divided  among  the  survivors 
then  numbering  300.  In  1881,  all  the 
funds  held  by  the  Government  for  this 
band  were  divided  pro  rata  and  the  mem- 
bers thereof  became  citizens  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  and 
are  no  longer  under  the  control  and  juris- 
diction of  the  Government.  By  writing  to 
Superintendent  Deaver,  you  should  be  able 
to  ascertain  what,  if  any,  chiefs  are  still 
recognized  by  the  remnant  of  this  tribe. 

Respectfully, 

(Signed)  E.  B.  MERRETT, 

Asst.  Commissioner.' 

HB-LO-14 

105677. 

Seneca  School  and  Quapaw  Agency, 
Wyandotte,  Oklahoma, 
January  12,  1917. 

Mr.  F.  M.  Sterrett, 

Miami  County, 

Troy,  Ohio. 

Sir: — 

This  is  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  of  the  9th  instant,  making  in- 
quiry about  the  branch  of  Miami  Indians 
located  in  this  country. 

I have  to  advise  you  that  these  Indians 
are  now  full  citizens.  The  restrictive 
period  expired  on  their  allotments  on  April 
12,  1915.  They  have  abandoned  all  tribal 
relations  and  live  as  other  citizens  of  this 
country. 

Thomas  Richardville  was  their  last 
Chief.  He  died  about  five  years  ago.  His 
son,  Charles  Richardville  lives  at  Carter- 
ville,  Missouri,  and  is  a licensed  under- 
taker. His  daughter,  Mary  L.  Pooler,  lives 


272 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


in  Miami,  Oklahoma,  and  no  doubt  could 
give  you  some  information. 

Very  respectfully, 

(Signed)  IRA  C.  DEAVER,  Supt. 

“Two  hundred  years  have  changed  the 
character  of  a great  continent  and  blotted 
from  its  face  a whole  peculiar  people.  Art 
has  usurped  the  bowers  of  nature  and  the 
anointed  children  of  education  have  been 
too  powerful  for  the  tribes  of  the  ignorant. 
Here  and  there,  a stricken  few  remain; 
but  how  unlike  their  bold,  untameable  pro- 
genitors. The  Indian  of  falcon  glance  and 
bearing,  the  theme  of  the  touching  ballad, 
the  hero  of  the  pathetic  tale  is  gone.  They 
will  live  only  in  the  songs  and  chronicles 
of  their  exterminators.  Let  them  be  faith- 
ful to  their  rude  virtues  as  men  and  pay 
due  tribute  to  their  unhappy  fate  as  a peo- 
ple.” 

COL.  JOHN  JOHNSTON 

Col.  Johnston  was  Indian  Agent  for  the 
entire  northwest  territory  with  head- 
quarters at  Upper  Piqua,  at  the  close  of 
the  17th  and  beginning  of  the  18th  cen- 
turies. He  was  with  Wayne  in  1794,  when 
20  years  of  age.  He  was  at  the  funeral  of 
Washington  and  the  last  funeral  of  Daniel 
Boone. 

I append  herewith  a letter  written  by 
him  in  1857  to  William  Perry,  President  of 
the  Dayton  Pioneer  Association,  on  ac- 
count of  the  general  information  it  con- 
tains in  relation  to  early  times  and  the 
high  source  of  the  information  but  par- 
ticularly the  information  it  contains  rela- 
tive to  Little  Turtle,  the  last  great  Chief 
of  the  Miami  Indians. 

It  will  be  noted  that  I have  carefully  fol- 
lowed the  Miami  tribe  of  Indians  from 
Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  in  1656,  to  the  pres- 
ent year,  1917,  to  the  town  of  Miami  in 
Oklahoma,  when  he  ceases  to  be  an  Indian 
and  becomes  a citizen  of  the  United  States. 

Col.  Johnston  said,  “Among  the  Indians 
of  my  agency  who  were  distinguished  for 
their  oratorical  powers  were  Buckinchilas, 
of  the  Delewares,  Mushequonaghqua,  or 


the  Little  Turtle,  of  the  Miamis;  Cutewn- 
ksa,  or  Black  Hoof,  of  the  Shawanese; 
Togwan,  or  John,  of  the  Senecas.  Of  all 
those  names  the  Turtle  was  by  far  the 
most  eloquent  and  the  ablest  Indian  diplo- 
matist and  statesman. 

“At  the  treaty  at  Greenville,  in  1795, 
and  at  every  subsequent  convention  and 
treaty  with  the  Commissioners  of  the 
United  States,  this  distinguished  Chief 
contended  manfully  for  the  rights  and  in- 
terests of  his  people.  The  boundary  line 
proposed  by  him  to  Gen.  Wayne  was  the 
Great  Miami  river  of  Ohio  and  this  turned 
out  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  instruc- 
tions of  President  Washington  and  his 
cabinet;  but  Gen.  Wayne  would  not  con- 
sent to  this,  as  it  would  cut  off  all  the  for- 
tified posts  except  Fort  Hamilton  which 
was  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Miami.  The 
line  was  finally  established  to  run  due 
north  from  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky 
river.  This  saved  the  people  of  Forts  St. 
Clair,  Jefferson,  Greenville,  Loramie, 
Piqua,  etc.  and  satisfied  the  military  char- 
acter and  honor  of  Mad  Anthony.  The 
treaty  put  an  end  to  the  Indian  war,  and 
opened  up  the  fertile  soil  of  the  northwest 
territory  to  the  thousands  of  American 
citizens  who  have  flocked  in  from  all  parts 
of  the  Union  to  possess  it,  long  before  the 
surveys  were  made  and  the  land  office  was 
opened  in  Cincinnati.  Squatters  innumer- 
able had  settled  on  choice  spots  throughout 
the  country.  This  gave  rise  to  the  pre- 
emption system  to  secure  to  the  settlers  the 
value  of  their  labor.  All  the  Acts  of  the 
Federal  Government  referring  to  the  dis- 
posal of  the  National  domain  show  a sa- 
cred regard  to  the  providing  of  farms  and 
homes  for  men  of  limited  means.  The 
original  plan  was  to  sell  by  whole  sections 
of  640  acres  only;  but  Gen.  Harrison, 
when  in  Congress,  who  was  evermore  the 
poor  man’s  friend,  had  the  land  law  al- 
tered, so  that  a quarter  of  a section  of  160 
acres  could  be  purchased.  And  now,  that 
every  human  being  can  possess  his  ground 
in  fee  simple,  the  quantity  on  sale  is  re- 


THE  MIAMI  INDIANS 


273 


duced  to  80  and  40  acre  tracts,  what  more 
could  be  done  for  the  poor  man  than  to 
enable  him  to  possess  a comfortable  home 
even  for  a less  sum  a forty  acre  tract  of 
canal  land  can  be  had  in  northern  Ohio.  It 
is  hard  to  sympathize  with  those  who  are 
clamoring  for  bread  in  large  cities  with 
the  foregoing  facts,  which  are  everywhere 
accessible  to  all.” 

“I  was  often  the  guest  of  Little  Turtle  at 
his  home  on  Eel  river,  a branch  of  the 
Wabash,  about  twenty  miles  from  Fort 
Wayne.  He  lived  in  good  style,  for  an  Indian 
— had  two  wives,  one  an  old  woman,  the 
choice  of  his  youth,  the  other  a young  girl 
of  eighteen  years.  Both  appeared  to  live 
in  great  peace  and  harmony.  Of  my  first 
visit  to  this  Chief,  accompanied  by  some 
officers  of  the  army  and  the  ladies  of  the 
garrison,  we  were  greeted  with  a very 
splendid  British  flag,  flying  at  the  public 
square  and  in  front  of  the  Court  House. 
In  my  remarks  to  the  Indians,  I told  them 
that  we  could  not  permit  that  the  flag  be 
displayed  on  American  ground ; that  it  be- 
longed to  the  English  and  not  to  us;  that 
in  all  nations  it  was  the  emblem  of  sover- 
eignty, that  they,  the  Indians,  were  the 
subjects  of  the  United  States,  residing  far 
within  our  territorial  limits  and  that  here- 
after, no  English  flag  should  be  displayed 
on  our  soil.  In  reply,  the  Chief  stated  that 
they  had  no  flag  except  the  one  exhibited ; 
that  if  I would  furnish  them  with  an 
American  flag  they  would  use  it  and  no 
other.  I accordingly  wrote  to  the  War 
Department  and  in  due  time  received  flags 
sufficient  for  all  the  tribes  of  my  agency. 
The  Turtle  received  a pension  from  the 
English  government  of  one  hundred 
guineas  a year,  and  this  was  continued  to 
him  long  after  the  United  Staes  assumed 
the  jurisdiction.  High  living  destroyed 
the  health  of  this  Chief  who  died  at  Fort 
Wayne,  not  quite  sixty  years  old,  of  a con- 
firmed case  of  gout.  He  was  buried  by 
order  of  the  Commanding  Officer  with 
military  honors. 

During  the  presidency  of  Washington, 


the  Miami  Indians  sent  a deputation  to 
Philadelphia,  at  the  time  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment was  located  there,  the  Turtle  be- 
ing of  the  party  and  chief  orator.  They 
were  graciously  received  by  the  President 
and  Gen.  Knox,  the  Secretary  of  War,  and 
on  their  return,  made  a very  favorable  re- 
port to  their  nation.  The  celebrated 
patriot,  Kosciusko,  happened  to  be  in 
Philadelphia  at  the  time  of  their  visit.  He 
sent  for  the  Indians  to  visit  him  at  his 
lodgings,  he  being  sick  and  unable  to  go 
around.  He  addressed  the  Chiefs  to  con- 
tend manfully  for  their  rights  and  never 
submit  to  a foreign  yoke.  At  parting,  he 
presented  his  favorite  pistols,  saying, 
“These  I have  used  in  defense  of  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  my  native  land,  and  I 
charge  you  to  keep  and  use  them  for  the 
same  purpose,  and  if  any  man  comes  to 
deprive  you  of  your  rights  and  your  coun- 
try, shoot  him  dead  with  these  pistols.”  I 
have  often  handled  those  precious  relics 
when  in  possession  of  the  Indian  Chief. 
They  were  of  the  finest  workmanship — 
silver  mounted  with  gold  touch  holes. 
After  the  Turtle’s  death,  the  Miamis  pos- 
sessed no  one  of  equal  ability  to  occupy  his 
place.  The  tribe  degenerated  into  dissipa- 
tion and  lost  its  rank  and  influence  in  the 
confederacy  of  the  northwest  tribes.  The 
rapid  increase  of  our  population  compelled 
them  to  abandon  their  favorite  home  on 
the  Wabash  and  seek  a new  country  south, 
southwest  of  the  Missouri  (On  the  Kaw 
river,  Kansas — Author).  From  the  ac- 
counts I have  of  their  intemperate  habits 
and  bad  management,  they  will  doubtless 
soon  become  extinct.  And  this  fate,  I fear, 
awaits  most  of  the  tribes  who  emigrated 
from  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan.  Among 
the  felicities  of  my  own  life  is  that  of  hav- 
ing beheld  the  person  of  Washington.  I 
heard  him  deliver  his  last  speech  to  both 
Houses  of  Congress  in  December,  1796,  it 
being  his  practice  to  address  the  National 
Legislature  in  person.  His  successor  in 
the  Presidency,  John  Adams,  pursued  the 


274 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


same  course.  On  the  advent  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson, the  custom  ceased,  and  ever  since, 
messages  in  writing  have  taken  the  place 
of  speeches.  (The  custom  of  Washington 
and  Adams,  after  more  than  a hundred 
years,  was  again  practiced  by  Woodrow 
Wilson,  elected  President  in  1912-16.  He 
has  addressed  Congress  at  each  opening, 
up  to  the  present  year,  1917. — The  Au- 
thor). Washington  died  in  1799,  and  in 
the  winter  of  that  year,  1800,  the  Presi- 
dent and  Congress  ordered  funeral  honors 
to  be  celebrated  to  his  memory.  It  fell  to 
my  lot,  as  Secretary  of  Washington  Ma- 
sonic Lodge  No.  59,  to  take  part  in  the 
ceremonies.  Col.  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of 
the  Revolution,  then  a member  of  the 
Fredericksburg  Lodge,  Virginia,  No.  4, 
and  was  reported  in  its  proceedings  among 
the  deaths  of  its  members  in  the  year  1799. 
A large  number  of  the  distinguished  men 
of  the  Revolution  were  members  of  the 
Masonic  orders,  Washington  being  chief, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges of  Free  Masonry  in  Fredericksburg 
Lodge  No.  4,  November  4,  1752,  and  ad- 
mitted to  the  higher  Order  of  the  Craft, 
August  4,  1754.  He  was  then  in  command 
of  the  Virginia  troops  raised  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  frontier  against  the  Indians 
and  their  allies. 

Of  the  first  settlers  known  to  me  and 
remembered,  of  the  Cincinnati  and  Miami 
valley  are  the  following:  Griffith  Yeatman 
was,  in  1793,  the  agent  of  the  Commissary 
Department,  or  rather  Assistant,  Edward 
Day  being  the  principal — the  yellow  house 
on  the  river  bank  being  the  principal  store 
house  and  office;  Capt.  Pierce,  of  the  In- 
fantry, commanded  Fort  Washington  in 
the  fall  of  1794,  when  I left  the  country. 
Of  the  merchants,  settlers  and  traders  the 
following  are  remembered : Samuel 

Creigh,  with  whom  I came  to  the  West  in 
1792,  Oliver  Ormsby,  Mr.  Bustard,  Mc- 
Connell, Tait,  Bullock,  Wilson,  James  Fer- 
guson, who  continued  a resident  of  Cincin- 
nati until  his  decease  a few  years  ago,  and 
I Gibson,  who  was,  I think,  in  after  years, 


first  Auditor  of  the  State.  The  firm  of 
Jesse  and  Abijah  Hunt  was  the  most  ex- 
tensive merchants  in  the  country.  There 
were  others  more  transient,  who  came 
with  goods  and  provisions,  who  sold  out 
by  the  wholesale  and  went  away,  but  the 
foregoing  names  embrace  the  principal 
traders  who  followed  the  army.  There 
were  some  mechanics.  Patrick  Dicky,  a 
tailor,  is  remembered.  Col.  John  Riddle 
carried  on  the  blacksmith  business,  his 
shop  was  on  the  levee  not  far  from  the  old 
Miami  exporting  company  bank;  Levi 
Munsell,  who  had  retired  from  the  army, 
kept  the  best  house  of  entertainment.  I 
boarded  with  him  in  1794.  At  this  time, 
the  town  organ  began  to  show  the  direc- 
tion of  some  of  the  streets.  There  was  oc- 
casional preaching,  in  a rough  frame  on 
the  site  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  cor- 
ner of  Fourth  and  Main  streets.  I remem- 
ber the  name  of  Arthur,  a Scotchman,  who 
preached  there.  The  chaplain  in  the  army 
was  Jones,  a Baptist,  a near  neighbor  to 
Gen.  Wayne,  from  Chester  county,  Pa. 
His  station  was  headquarters  Greenville. 

I am  under  the  impression  it  was  Gen. 
William  Henry  Harrison,  then  a lieutenant 
in  the  army,  who  commanded  the  party  to 
inter  the  bones  of  those  who  fell  in  St. 
Clair’s  defeat,  on  November  4,  1791,  and 
not  Col.  Wilkinson  as  stated  by  Dr.  Ferris. 

The  settlers  at  Columbia  had  sufficient 
to  do  at  the  time  to  defend  themselves 
from  the  attacks  of  the  Indians  and  could 
illy  spare  a part  of  the  male  population  to 
go  as  far  off  as  the  battle  ground.  (Co- 
lumbia was  at  the  mouth  of  the  Little 
Miami,  now  in  the  eastern  section  of  Cin- 
cinnati and  had  no  fort. — The  Author.) 
Besides  this,  there  were  of  the  regular 
troops  sufficient  to  spare  at  Fort  Washing- 
ton (Cincinnati)  to  be  detailed  for  pur- 
poses of  burying  the  dead  and  I think  it 
was  they  that  performed  that  duty  under 
the  gallant  Harrison. 

Of  the  first  settlers  on  the  road  north 
from  Cincinnati,  was  the  Whites  at 
White’s  Station^,  the  Ludlows  at  Ludlow 


Ludlow  Falls  before  the  traction  line  bridge  was  built  over  it 


Panther  Creek  Falls,  Newton  Township 


Ludlow  Falls  after  the  traction  line 


Sunderland  Falls,  Monroe  Township 


THE  MIAMI  INDIANS 


279 


Station,  Mclntires  at  the  yard  (now  called 
Mechanicsburg)  eighteen  miles  on  the 
Dayton  road;  Beattys  at  the  crossing  of 
the  Lebanon  and  Hamilton  road ; Dr.  Hole 
at  Hole’s  creek;  Newcome  at  Dayton. 
The  settlers  on  the  Piqua  road  north  was 
Morrison  at  Honey  Creek  (Livingston, 
first  town  laid  out  in  Miami  county,  else- 
where dwelt  on. — Author)  the  Gerards, 
Blues  and  Felix  at  Staunton ; the  Hilliards 
at  Lower  Piqua  and  James  Flinn  and 
Shadrach  Hudson  at  Upper  Piqua  (after- 
ward the  residence  of  myself  and  family). 
Hudson  had  been  in  the  army  and  had 
planted  the  first  corn  on  the  place.  He 
told  me  his  manner  of  doing  this.  He 
broke  up  the  ground,  prairie,  with  two 
yoke  of  oxen,  the  sod  being  first  turned 
over,  could  not  be  scored  out  in  the  usual 
manner,  so  he  drove  his  wagon  over  the 
ground,  marking  the  rows  by  the  wheels, 
then  crossing  the  same  at  right  angles  and 
planting  his  seed  at  the  point  crossed.  He 
was  late  in  planting,  but  had  a fair  crop. 
Mathew  Caldwell,  another  of  the  first 
settlers,  sowed  his  wheat  on  Christmas  day 
and  had  a fair  crop.  The  climate  then  was 
milder  than  at  present,  the  Fall  and  In- 
dian summer  extending  far  into  December. 
I have  encamped  in  the  woods  often  in  that 
month,  without  fires  except  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cooking.  The  great  flood  in  the 
Ohio  in  1793  overspread  the  entire  lower 
plat  of  the  city  to  the  depth  of  at  least  four 
feet.  The  Indians  often  affirmed  to  me  of 
a much  greater  rise  in  the  river  within 
their  recollections. 

Among  the  incidents  of  the  flood  of  1793 
was  that  of  Peter  Walsh,  the  barber,  go- 
ing in  a scow  to  dress  the  heads  of  some 
of  the  officers  of  the  army,  the  officers  and 
men  wearing  their  hair  long  and  using 
hair  powder,  the  former  required  his 
services  daily.  The  soldiers  who  mounted 
guard  for  the  day  were  only  required  to  be 
powdered.  It  was  a very  troublesome  and 
inconvenient  custom.  After  the  death  of 
Gen.  Wayne  and  on  Wilkinson  attaining  to 
the  command  of  the  army,  a general  order 


was  issued  requiring  all  officers,  non  com- 
missioned officers  and  privates  to  have 
their  hair  cut  short.  As  may  be  readily 
imagined,  the  order  with  many  was  un- 
popular. It  was,  however  generally  com- 
plied with.  Col.  Thomas  Butler  resisted 
and  was  brought  to  court  martial  for  dis- 
obedience. How  the  matter  ended  in  his 
case,  I have  forgotten.  He  soon  left  the 
army  and  settled  in  the  Mississippi  terri- 
tory. This  officer  was  wounded  in  St. 
Clair’s  defeat.  He  was  brother  to  Gen. 
Richard  Butler  who  fell  in  that  battle. 
The  family  had  signalized  itself  in  the 
wars  of  the  country,  three  or  four  brothers 
having  borne  commissions  in  the  western 
army.  The  youngest,  Capt.  Butler,  was  the 
last  commander  of  Fort  Loramie,  fourteen 
miles  north  of  my  Indian  agency  at  Upper 
Piqua.  It  is  sometimes  interesting  to  con- 
trast the  compensation  of  public  servants 
during  the  administration  of  Washington 
with  those  of  the  present  day.  A private 
soldier,  three  dollars  per  month,  subsis- 
tence and  clothing  with  medical  attend- 
ance free,  commissioned  officers  and  musi- 
cians proportionately  low.  The  civil  ad- 
ministration as  follows : Chief  Justice  of 
the  United  States  per  annum,  $4,000 ; asso- 
ciates, $3,500;  United  States  Judge  of 
Maine,  $1,000;  New  Hampshire,  $1,000; 
Vermont,  $800;  Massachusetts,  $1,200; 
Rhode  Island,  $1,000 ; Connecticut,  $2,000 ; 
New  York,  $12,500;  New  Jersey,  $1,000; 
Pennsylvania,  $1,600;  Delaware,  $1,000; 
Maryland,  $1,500;  Virginia,  $1,800;  Ken- 
tucky, $1,000;  North  Carolina,  $1,500; 
Georgia,  $1,500;  Attorney  General  of  the 
United  States,  $1,900;  Member  of  both 
Houses  of  Congress,  $6  per  day  each  and 
traveling  expenses,  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, $3,500;  Secretary  of  War,  $3,000; 
Governor  of  Northwest  territory,  $2,000. 

I left  Fort  Washington  in  the  fall  of 
1794  and  ascended  the  Ohio  by  water  to 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  in  a small  peri- 
ogue,  purchased  by  a party  of  nine  who 
clubbed  for  the  cost  and  the  common  stock 
of  provisions  for  the  trip.  We  organized 


280 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


for  defense  against  the  Indians  who  often 
waylaid  the  river,  attacking  and  capturing 
the  boats ; chose  John  Ward  after  Clerk  of 
the  Courts  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  for  our 
Captain.  The  river  was  low  and  the  pas- 
sage tedious.  One  man  of  the  party  was 
always  detailed  on  shore  to  guard  against 
surprise  from  the  Indians  and  this  duty 
was  performed  alternately  by  all  the  party, 
the  Captain  excepted.  We  never  made  any 
fire  at  night,  cooked  our  suppers  in  the 
afternoon,  then  pushed  our  craft  on  until 
night  set  in.  We  then  sought  some  quiet 
nook  where  we  landed  and  lay  down  to 
sleep,  one  of  the  party  keeping  awake  and 
acting  as  sentinel.  We  often  lodged  on 
islands,  sometimes  on  the  north  and  some 
times  on  the  south  shore.  Thus  we  baffled 
the  savages  if  any  were  in  pursuit.  We 
reached  Wheeling  in  safety,  after  a pas- 
sage of  more  than  twenty  days.  A large 
party  who  started  with  us  and  from  which 
we  purposely  separated,  lost  two  men 
killed  and  a woman  wounded  by  the  In- 


dians. In  passing  up,  we  saw  several  re- 
mains of  boats  that  had  been  captured  and 
destroyed  by  the  Indians,  the  unfortunate 
occupants  had  either  been  killed  or  taken 
into  captivity  by  the  savages.  My  relative, 
Charles  Johnston,  of  Bot-e-tourt,  Virginia, 
was  thus  taken  in  1792  on  the  Ohio,  his 
boat  being  decoyed  ashore  by  a base  white 
man,  under  a pretense  of  being  a prisoner 
escaped  from  the  Indians.  Mr.  May,  the 
principal  owner  of  the  boat  and  cargo  was 
shot  through  the  head  dead,  while  holding 
up  an  emblem  of  surrender.  Johnston, 
after  being  taken  to  the  Wyandotte  vil- 
lages on  Sandusky  river,  ransomed  by  a 
humane  trader  named  Francis  Duchaquet, 
who  was  for  many  years  my  interpreter 
in  the  Shawnee  nation.  His  Indian  name 
was  So-wah-quo-the  or  the  Fork. 

Four  years  after  the  above  letter  was 
written,  Col.  Johnston,  the  greatest  char- 
acter of  Miami  county  in  early  times,  died 
in  Washington  City,  D.  C.,  April  19,  1861. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


It  has  been  generally  accepted  that  John 
Knoop  was  the  first  settler  in  Miami 
County,  but  since  several  settlers  came 
into  the  county  in  1797,  the  year  he  ar- 
rived, and  others  earlier  than  that  date, 
I think  it  best  to  place  them  in  chronolog- 
ical order  in  order  that  there  may  be  little 
doubt  hereafter  on  that  historical  fact. 

When  Knoop  arrived  here,  he  found 
Peter  Felix  at  Staunton,  who,  according 
to  Tullis  and  all  early  writers  on  local  his- 
tory, came  here  immediately  after  the 
Treaty  of  Greenville  in  the  fall  of  1795. 
At  the  same  time  or  soon  after,  and  cer- 
tainly before  Knoop’s  coming  Simeon  Lan- 
dry and  a man  by  the  name  of  Duprey  had 
cast  their  fortunes  with  Felix  who  was 
carrying  on  a profitable  trade  with  the  In- 
dians. Between  the  date,  August  20,  1794, 
when  the  “Battle  of  Fallen  Timbers”  was 
fought  up  to  the  date  of  the  Greenville 
Treaty  on  August  3,  1795,  Gen.  Wayne 
had  been  busily  occupied  in  negotiations 
with  each  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  Ohio  and 
Indiana  for  the  treaty  which  he  so  happily 
consummated.  While  there  was  no 
thought  of  an  Indian  war  during  that  year, 
those  who  had  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  fer- 
tile lands  of  Miami  County,  did  not  ven- 
ture to  settle  there.  The  cabin  built  by 
Peter  Felix  in  the  autumn  of  1795  was  un- 
doubtedly the  first  one  and  he  with  his  two 
companions  were  the  first  three  settlers. 
B.  Van  Cleave  in  his  “American  Pioneers” 
page  295,  Vol.  II,  says  that  “In  the  spring 
of  1796,  a settlement  was  made  at  the 
mouth  of  Honey  Creek  and  one  at  old 
Piqua  on  the  Miami.”  It  was  Samuel 
Morrison  and  David  Morris  who  settled  at 
the  mouth  of  Honey  Creek  and  laid  out  a 


town  there  which  they  named  Livingston. 
Freeman’s  Prairie,  near  by,  had  been  an 
Indian  cornfield  and  this  was  used  by  the 
new  settlers  to  furnish  them  bread.  The 
first  town  in  Miami  County,  singularly, 
has  no  definite  history.  The  descendants 
of  Morrison  and  Morris  are  numerous  and 
yet  it  is  not  possible  to  obtain  information 
in  reference  to  the  number  of  houses  built 
there  and  the  number  of  years  they  stood. 
There  seems  to  be  neither  record  or  tradi- 
tion on  the  subject.  The  reasonable  con- 
jecture is,  however,  that  since  the  altitude 
of  the  mouth  of  Honey  Creek  is  790  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  the  first  high 
water  drove  them  up  the  Woodward  Hill 
for  safety  and  that  they  there  and  then 
realized  that  their  chosen  location  for  a 
town  had  not  been  judiciously  made. 

I have  read  and  sought  to  learn  the 
early  history  of  Miami  County  since  a boy 
and  have  always  been  staggered  at  what 
would  seem  the  folly  of  locating  a town  at 
the  mouth  of  Honey  Creek  and  have 
sought  to  disprove  that  there  ever  was  a 
town  located  at  that  particular  point. 
Failing  in  this,  I assume  the  right  to  doubt 
the  statement  and  suggest  that  the  con- 
gregation of  houses  known  for  many  years 
as  Babbtown,  located  one-half  mile  north 
of  the  crossing  of  the  Tippecanoe  and  New 
Carlisle  turnpike  and  the  Troy  and  Dayton 
east  side  turnpike  was  the  actual  location 
of  Livingston.  This  was  the  site  of  Babb’s 
Mill  which  served  the  people  of  Monroe 
Staunton  and  Bethel  townships  for  many 
years.  I will,  therefore,  paraphrase  the 
“American  Pioneers”  quoted  above  with 
“In  the  spring  of  1796,  a settlement  was 
made  one  mile  northeast  of  the  mouth  of 

281 


282 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Honey  Creek  on  the  bluff  at  a point  where 
Babb’s  Mill  was  afterward  located,  and 
called  Livingston,  which,  on  account  of 
Babb’s  Mill  there  in  1832,  was  merged  into 
Babbtown.” 

The  settler  at  Piqua  referred  to  in  the 
above  abstract  from  “American  Pioneers” 
was  undoubtedly  Job  Gard  who  had  been 
a suttler  in  Wayne’s  army.  He  came  to 
the  old  fort  at  upper  Piqua  in  the  Spring 
of  1796  early  enough  to  plant  the_  “Big 
Bend”  at  Piqua  in  corn  that  year  which 
had  been  used  by  the  Twightwees  and 
Shawnees  during  their  occupancy  of  the 
Piqua  country,  for  the  same  purpose.  He 
lived  in  the  old  fort  until  the  summer  of 
1797  about  the  time  John  Knoop  came  to 
Staunton  at  which  time  he  selected  the 
best  material  from  the  fort;  floated  down 
the  river,  and,  according  to  J.  A.  Raynard 
in  his  “First  Century  of  Piqua,”  used  it  in 
the  construction  of  a cabin  near  what  is 
now  the  corner  of  Harrison  and  Water 
streets.  In  the  summer  of  1797,  Jonathan 
Rollins,  Samuel  Hilliard,  John  Gerard, 
Shadrach  Hudson,  Daniel  Cox,  Thomas 
Rich  and  others  were  induced  to  locate  a 
town  at  Piqua  by  John  Cleve  Symmes,  who 
owned  2,000,000  acres  between  the  Great 
and  Little  Miami  rivers  and  who  promised 
the  above  named,  lands  and  lots.  Symmes 
either  did  not  know  that  the  Indian  vil- 
lages were  located  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Miami  or  the  men  made  a mistake  in  the 
locality  in  the  fact  that  Symmes  did  not 
own  any  land  west  of  the  Great  Miami. 
These  men  sought  other  localities.  Rollins 
and  Hudson  settled  at  the  mouth  of  Spring 
Creek,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Miami. 
Benjamin  Iddings  settled  with  a family  of 
six  children,  in  the  Spring  of  1797,  west 
of  the  Stillwater  in  Newton  township.  In 
the  Spring  of  1798,  John  Knoop,  Henry 
Gerard,  Benjamin  Hamlet,  John  Tilden 
and  others  settled  at  Staunton  where 
Peter  Felix,  the  Indian  trader,  had  pre- 
ceded them.  It  was  the  practical,  indus- 
trious Knoops  who  set  about  redeeming 
the  virgin  soil  from  the  primeval  forests 


and  the  establishment  of  a protected  com- 
munity. The  “Dutch  Station”  was 
formed  by  erecting  a line  of  log  cabins,  all 
joined  together,  forming  one  side  of  a 
square  with  the  remaining  three  sides  en- 
closed by  palings,  eight  feet  high  firmly 
driven  in  the  ground.  All  the  openings  of 
the  cabins  inside  the  square  were  secured 
by  a strong  gateway.  Here  the  settlers 
remained  for  period  of  two  years,  in  the 
meantime,  raising  their  first  crops  of  corn 
on  Gerard’s  and  Gahagan’s  Prairies  which 
had  been  previously  tilled  by  the  Indians. 
The  reader  should  understand  that  the 
Gerard  Prairie  was  the  land  lying  east  of 
Staunton  and  the  Gahagan  Prairie  was  the 
bottom  land  west  of  Staunton  running  up 
to  Main  street  in  Troy.  In  the  Spring  of 
1799,  the  station  was  augmented  by  the 
arrival  of  John  Gerard,  Uriah  Blue,  Jo- 
seph Coe,  Abram  Hathaway,  Nathaniel 
Gerard,  Abner  Gerard,  and  Daniel  and 
Christopher  Knoop.  “It  was  the  victory 
of  Clark  that  gave  to  the  first  settlers  in 
this  county  a sense  of  security”  is  quoted 
from  the  last  history  of  Miami  County  in 
1909.  In  the  fact  that  Clark’s  victory  at 
upper  Piqua  was  in  1782  when  no  white 
man  lived  in  the  county  and  that  there 
were  no  white  men  living  in  Miami  County 
for  thirteen  years  after  Clark’s  victory 
and  that  the  intervening  thirteen  years  I 
have  called  “The  Bloody  Period”  because 
of  the  Indian  forays  into  Kentucky  from 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  it  is  clear  that  Clark’s 
victory  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  “sense 
of  security”  felt  by  the  first  settlers  in 
1795-6-7.  It  was  the  victory  of  “Fallen 
Timbers”  on  August  20,  1794,  by  Mad  An- 
thony Wayne  and  his  treaty  with  the  In- 
dians one  year  later  at  Greenville  that 
furnished  the  sense  of  security. 

Sketches  from  Note  Books  of  Capt. 
E.  S.  Williams 

John  Knoop  Erected  the  First  House  in 
Miami  County,  in  1800,  on  the  Farm 
of  William  R.  Saunders 
“Among  the  first  emigrants  to  Miami 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


283 


County  were  the  Knoop  brothers,  consist- 
ing of  John,  Benjamin,  Christian  and 
Daniel.  John  was  the  eldest.  He  was  born 
in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania, 
November  8,  1767.  They  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  then  the  Northwest  Territory,  in 
1797,  and  came  down  the  Ohio,  in  a flat 
boat  to  Fort  Washington,  afterwards  Cin- 
cinnati. Their  father  was  of  German  de- 
scent and  died  some  years  before  his  sons 
removed  to  the  west.  Their  mother  was  a 
native  of  Switzerland  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1732.  When  they  came  to 
Fort  Washington  early  in  the  spring  of 
1797  they  planted  a crop  of  corn  on 
Zeigler’s  stone-house  farm  about  four 
miles  above  Cincinnati,  on  land  then  be- 
longing to  John  Smith.  During  the  sum- 
mer John  Knoop  made  two  excursions  into 
the  Indian  country  with  surveying  parties 
and  at  that  time  selected  the  land  on  which 
he  lived  and  died. 

“The  above  statement  is  from  an  article 
called  ‘Miami  County  Traditions,’  written 
by  William  Bosson  and  published  in  the 
Troy  Times  of  April  10,  1839,  but  notes 
prepared  by  William  R.  Saunders,  who 
married  the  daughter  of  William  Knoop 
and  who  lives  on  the  land  settled  by  John 
Knoop  in  1797,  state  that  the  Knoop 
brothers  came  to  Fort  Washington  in  1796 
and  located  a tract  of  land  in  Warren 
county,  and  that  in  1797,  when,  on  a sec- 
ond excursion  into  the  Indian  country,  he 
located  on  what  is  now  section  4,  Staunton 
township,  in  this  county.  On  his  return  to 
Fort  Washington  they  immediately  made 
preparations  for  their  removal,  and  in 
connection  with  other  families  made  the 
journey  up  the  Miami  river,  following  the 
trace  of  the  road  over  which  General 
Clark  traveled  in  his  expeditions  against 
the  Indian  towns  of  Piqua,  on  the  Miami 
River,  until  they  came  to  the  bend  of  the 
river  where  the  village  of  Staunton  is  now 
located,  and  there  John  Knoop,  and 
brothers,  Henry  Girard,  Benjamin  Hamlet 
and  John  Tilders  established  a station  forj 
the  security  of  their  families.  f 


“This  station  was  called  Dutch  Station. 
It  was  a stockade  built  so  as  to  enclose 
the  cabins  of  the  above  named  settlers,  and 
for  those  days  it  was  a rather  strong  fort, 
proving  an  effectual  protection  against  the 
Indians.  It  was  the  first  permanent  settle- 
ment made  in  Miami  County  and  became 
the  stopping  point  for  new  emigrants  to 
this  portion  of  the  Miami  valley. 

“Here  Jacob  Knoop  was  born  in  1798. 
He  was  the  first  white  child  born  within 
what  is  now  Miami  County,  and  was  the 
son  of  John  and  Barbara  Knoop.  The 
families  in  this  station  remained  there  un- 
til 1800.  In  the  meantime  they  raised 
crops  across  the  river,  opposite  the  stock- 
ade on  a prairie  that  had  been  cultivated 
by  the  Indians,  and  was  afterwards 
known  as  Gahagan’s  Prairie. 

“In  the  Spring  of  1800  the  settlers 
commenced  improving  their  land  by  build- 
ing cabins  and  clearing  the  ground.  John 
Knoop  erected  on  his  land  in  1800  a cabin 
with  a loft  to  it,  which  is  still  standing, 
and  which  the  writer  visited  a few  days 
prior  to  writing  this  sketch.  It  is  the  old- 
est cabin  now  standing  in  the  county  of 
Miami  and  is  kept  in  good  preservation  by 
Mr.  Saunders  and  his  wife. 

“It  may  be  a matter  of  interest  to  the 
readers  of  this  sketch  to  state  where  each 
of  the  Knoop  brothers  located.  John  set- 
tled on  section  4,  where  the  old  cabin 
stands,  near  the  beautiful  home  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Saunders  and  his  wife.  Ben- 
jamin Knoop  located  on  the  farm  adjoin- 
ing, Lost  Creek  dividing  the  farms,  and 
his  place  is  owned  at  the  present  time  by 
George  and  Mary  Sheets.  Christian  Knoop 
located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Presley 
Sayers,  while  Daniel  Knoop  located  on  the 
farm  where  S.  D.  Green  at  present  resides. 
There  was,  and  is  yet,  a good  spring  of 
water  on  each  farm  named. 

“After  John  Knoop  had  built  his  cabin 
he  went  back  to  Pennsylvania  after  his 
aged  mother  and  brought  her  to  his  new 
home,  making  the  trip  of  five  hundred 
fmiles  through  the  wilderness  on  horse- 


284 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


back.  She  died  in  1805,  and  was  buried 
on  the  ground  selected  by  herself  only  a 
short  time  before  her  death.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  the  Knoop  cemetery, 
where  now  sleep  the  old  pioneer  Knoops 
and  their  sons  and  daughters,  by  the  side 
of  the  emigrant  woman  from  the  moun- 
tains of  Switzerland,  who  raised  her  boys 
in  the  shadow  of  the  Alleghanies.  The 
subject  is  one  worthy  of  the  poet’s  song  as 
well  as  of  the  historian’s  pen.  In  the  old 
house  built  in  1800  were  raised  seven  chil- 
dren. Five  were  born  beneath  its  clap 
board  roof ; one  son,  George,  the  eldest, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1795,  and 
Jacob,  the  second  son,  in  the  stockade  at 
Dutch  Station.  All  the  family — father, 
mother  and  seven  children — sleep  side  by 
side  ‘waiting  the  judgment  day’  in  the 
beautiful  Knoop  cemetery  on  the  bank  of 
Lost  Creek,  close  by  the  old  cabin  of  1800 ; 
and  over  their  graves  grow  the  flowers 
that  were  first  propagated  from  the  seeds 
brought  from  Cumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1797. 

“Each  one  of  the  pioneers  and  their  sons 
and  daughters  filled  a place  in  the  early 
settlement  of  this  county  and  are  entitled 
to  the  gratitude  of  the  present  generation. 
George,  the  eldest  son,  died  in  1862.  He 
was  never  married.  He  was  a genial,  gen- 
erous, practical  man  and  was  the  head  of 
the  firm  of  “Knoop  Brothers,”  or,  as  they 
were  usually  called,  ‘The  bachelor  Knoops,’ 
the  rest  of  the  bachelors  being  Jacob  and 
John  H.  Thomas,  another  son,  died  in  year 
18 — ; William,  the  youngest  son,  was  born 
in  1812,  married  to  Rachael  A.  Kerr,  and 
reared  a family  of  eight  children.  Nancy 
Knoop  was  born  in  1801,  and  was  married 
to  Isaac  Sheets  in  1824.  She  was  the 
mother  of  six  children,  three  boys  and 
three  girls.  Elizabeth  was  married  to 
George  Statler,  in  the  year  1829,  and  was 
the  mother  of  two  boys  and  one  girl — 
Samuel  K.,  W.  S.  and  Harriet  Statler. 

“John  Knoop,  the  pioneer,  was  an  act- 
ive, energetic,  enterprising  business  man, 
and  did  much  in  his  modest,  unassuming 


way  towards  building  up  and  improving 
Miami  county.  At  an  early  day  he  erected 
a sawmill  and  gritsmill;  also  a distillery, 
and  his  whisky  was  noted  for  its  purity. 
In  1816  he  erected  a two  story  brick  house 
as  a residence,  near  the  log  cabin  he 
erected  in  1800.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Barbara 
Knoop,  planted  apple  seeds  and  raised  her 
own  trees  for  a large  orchard.  One  tree 
grew  to  an  enormous  size,  being  ten  feet 
in  circumference  and  branches  shading 
over  seventy  feet.  The  fruit  was  similar 
in  color  and  shape  to  the  popular  Maiden 
Blush  apple,  but  was  more  acid.  Pinks 
are  growing  in  the  Spring  and  Summer  of 
1900,  in  the  Knoop  cemetery  the  seed  of 
which  was  brought  to  Miami  county  in 
1797.  John  and  Benjamin  Knoop  married 
sisters  by  the  name  of  Holstine.  Ben- 
jamin raised  a large  family  of  sons  and 
daughters.  Daniel,  a son  of  Benjamin 
Knoop,  was  a merchant  and  at  an  early 
day  opened  a store  in  Casstown.  Jacob 
Knoop,  Jr.,  was  a surveyor  by  profession ; 
was  elected  mayor  of  Troy  and  justice  of 
peace.  He  also  was  elected  and  served  as 
auditor  and  treasurer  of  Miami  County. 
Andrew,  another  son,  was  an  active  busi- 
ness man,  and  became  quite  a large  land- 
holder. Jacob  Knoop,  Sr.,  the  son  of  John 
Knoop,  was  twice  elected  county  commis- 
sioner; George  Knoop,  when  only  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  enlisted  in  the  army  and 
served  against  the  British  and  the  Indians 
in  the  war  of  1812.  The  Knoop  brothers 
brought  the  first  sheep  to  Miami  County, 
and  in  everything  pertaining  to  agricul- 
ture and  public  enterprise  they  took  an 
active  part  and  did  much  to  lay  wide  and 
deep  the  foundations  for  the  present  pros- 
perity of  this  county.  The  whole  genera- 
tion were  Whigs  in  politics,  and  were 
staunch  supporters  of  Henry  Clay.  The 
family  sent  many  soldiers  to  the  front  to 
battle  for  the  Union  and  the  old  flag  dur- 
ing the  late  Rebellion.  Mrs.  Henry  Car- 
ver, of  Troy,  and  Henry  Knoop,  of  Dayton, 
are  the  only  survivors  of  the  first  genera- 
tion of  Knoops  born  in  Miami  County. 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


285 


“John  Knoop  and  Colonel  John  Johnson, 
the  Indian  agent,  were  fast  friends  and 
often  visited  each  other.  The  sons  of 
John  Knoop,  Jacob  and  John  H.  Knoop,  in 
1873  purchased  the  Statler  farm  lying  in 
Elizabeth  township,  consisting  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-three  acres  of  land.  After 
making  some  necessary  improvements, 
they  transferred  it  to  the  county  of  Miami 
in  June,  1877,  for  a home  for  orphan  chil- 
dren provided  the  county  would  erect  the 
necessary  buildings.  Miami  county  has 
now  upon  this  donation  of  the  “Bachelor 
Knoops”  one  of  the  finest  county  children’s 
homes  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  The  Bachelor 
Knoops  added  to  the  competence  left  them 
by  their  father,  the  pioneer  of  1796,  and 
when  they  died  they  left  to  their  heirs  the 
snug  fortune  of  four  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  yet  they  were  generous 
to  all  worthy  charities.  Jacob  was  one  of 
the  originators  of  the  old  State  Bank  of 
Troy,  which,  under  the  national  banking 
act  was  organized  into  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Troy. 

“In  preparing  this  sketch  of  a family 
that  had  had  so  marked  an  influence  upon 
the  past  of  Miami  County  the  writer  is 
under  manv  obligations  to  W.  R.  Saun- 
ders.”—E.  S.  W. 

After  entering  their  land,  the  settlers 
would  build  their  homes,  no  palatial  resi- 
dences for  them,  but  the  humble  log  cabin 
with  puncheons  or  split  plank  for  floors, 
and  four  feet  split  clapboards  for  roof.  At 
one  end  would  be  a chimney  of  wood,  plas- 
tered with  clay,  and  the  fireplace  of  this 
chimney  served  at  once  as  furnace  and 
range  for  the  new  home. 

Cooking  stoves  were  unknown  in  Miami 
County  one  hundred  years  ago.  The  cook- 
ing was  all  done  before  the  large  cabin 
fire.  A large  hook,  or  crane,  was  sus- 
pended above  the  fire  upon  which  was 
hung  a cast  iron  vessel  in  which  water  was 
heated  and  provision  cooked.  The  Dutch 
oven,  also  made  of  iron,  would  be  set  in 
front  of  the  fire  and  ashes  and  coals 
heaped  around  it.  In  this  oven  the  bread 


was  baked,  a favorite  dish  with  the  pio- 
neers was  hoe  cake,  which  was  made  from 
cornmeal  and  baked  before  the  fire  in  a 
clapboard.  Green  corn  was  roasted  before 
the  fire,  and  from  this  manner  of  cooking 
green  corn,  it  is  called  to  this  day  roasting 
ears. 

The  women,  who  belonged  to  the  fami- 
lies of  the  sturdy  pioneers,  did  not  belong 
to  clubs,  but  found  plenty  to  occupy  their 
time  at  home.  Every  woman  with  her  own 
hands  carded  the  wool,  spun  and  wove  it 
into  linsey,  from  which  the  winter  cloth- 
ing of  her  family  was  made,  and  in  the 
summer  all  wore  linen.  The  men  sowed 
the  flax,  broke  it  and  left  to  the  women 
the  succeeding  steps  of  transforming  it 
into  wearing  apparel.  Ladies  now  buy 
linen  and  spend  their  time  in  doing  dainty 
drawn  work,  but  their  grandmothers  made 
the  linen  from  the  raw  flax  performing 
with  their  own  hands  the  labor  of  pulling, 
swingling,  hackling  and  weaving  into  gar- 
ments. The  dress  suit  of  the  men  con- 
sisted of  buckskin  and  in  the  place  of  pat- 
ent leather  shoes  they  wore  moccasins. 

Behind  every  tree  a savage  lurked  ready 
at  the  first  opportunity  to  kill  and  scalp 
the  pale  face,  and  the  pioneer  always  went 
armed  ready  to  battle  for  his  own  life  and 
that  of  his  family  in  their  little  cabin. 
Corn  was  cultivated  with  the  rifle  within 
reach,  the  gun  was  laid  a few  feet  in  ad- 
vance, the  corn  hoed  up  to  the  gun,  the  gun 
laid  a few  feet  farther  on,  and  the  hoe 
again  taken  up.  Those  were  days  of  trials 
and  dangers  of  which  the  present  genera- 
tion can  form  no  idea.” 

While  the  sketches  above  are  well  and 
truthfully  drawn  the  Captain  should  have 
modified  the  terror  created  by  the  presence 
of  an  Indian  “behind  every  tree”  so  far  a» 
conditions  were  meant  to  apply  to  Miami 
County  in  the  early  day.  My  reader  has 
already  learned  that  there  were  no  white 
men  here  until  1795  except  the  very  few 
who  occupied  the  trading  post  at  Piqua 
from  1849  to  1852  being  the  first  English 
settlement  in  Ohio,  antedating  Marietta 


286 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


by  39  years.  After  1795  the  whites  and 
Indians  lived  together  in  perfect  harmony 
until  the  war  of  1812  and  that  conflict 
was  not  waged  on  or  near  Miami  County 
soil.  The  only  contest  between  the  white 
man  and  Indian  on  Miami  County  soil  was 
when  Clark  came  up  the  valley  in  1782  to 
chastise  the  Indians  for  depredations  com- 
mitted against  the  70,000  people  then  liv- 
ing in  the  State  of  Kentucky.  The  condi- 
tions described  by  the  Captain  applied  to 
Kentucky  and  some  parts  of  Ohio  at  a 
date  earlier  than  the  settlement  of  Miami 
County. 

In  his  recollections  Abram  Thomas  de- 
scribes the  uniform  of  the  two  independ- 
ent rifle  companies  that  were  in  Miami 
County  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  of 
1812  as  follows:  “The  members  of  the 

two  independent  rifle  companies  of  the 
county  wore  light  blue  linsey  hunting 
shirt,  with  a cape,  the  whole  fringed  and 
coming  half  way  down  to  the  thigh,  buck- 
skin breeches,  leather  belt,  shot  pouch  and 
powder-horn  with  large  knife,  and  toma- 
hawk or  hatchet  in  the  belt  and  rifle  on 
the  shoulder.” 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Samuel 
Morrison  and  David  Morris  in  1797  in 
Bethel  township,  Thomas  Stockstill  came 
to  Ohio  from  Tennessee  making  the  trip  on 
foot  and  settled  in  Bethel  township  in 
1801.  He  organized  a church  where 
Palmer  chapel  now  stands  in  1810  and  was 
the  first  class  leader.  The  dedicatory  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  William  R. 
Raper.  About  1797,  John  H.  Crawford 
settled  in  Bethel  township.  Robert,  his 
brother,  came  with  him  and  was  the  first 
Director  of  the  town  of  Troy  and  sold  the 
first  lots  and  reported  $2,800  as  the  sum 
received  for  the  first  year’s  sales  about 
which  amount  there  was  an  investigation 
in  1825.  The  first  lot  laid  out  was  at  the 
corner  of  Water  and  Clay  streets  to  be 
hereafter  shown  in  the  first  published  plat 
of  Troy.  John  H.  Crawford  was  one  of 
the  first  associated  judges  of  Miami 
County.  In  1800,  Philip  and  Jacob  Saylor 


settled  on  Indian  Creek  close  to  where  it 
empties  into  Honey  Creek,  and  the  same 
year  Mary  Saylor  married  Joseph  Stafford 
and  Rachel  Saylor  married  David  H, 
Morris.  John,  David  and  Abraham  Stude- 
baker  came  into  Bethel  township  at  an 
early  day  from  Maryland  and  their  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren  now  own  some  of 
the  best  lands  in  Miami  County.  Adam 
Black,  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier,  set- 
tled near  Brandt  at  an  early  day  and  also 
William  Woodward.  The  picture  of  John 
R.  Woodward,  his  son,  will  appear  in  these 
pages.  The  view  from  the  Woodward  Hill 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  Miami 
County.  Looking  westward,  two  miles 
distant,  over  the  valley,  the  thriving  town 
of  Tippecanoe,  commences  at  the  foot  of 
the  slope  ascending  westward  in  an  un- 
equalled panorama  of  village,  farm  land, 
spreading  to  water,  rolling,  taking  up, 
farm  buildings  and  forest,  plainly  outlined 
to  the  view  for  at  least  a distance  of  five 
miles.  The  intervening  space  of  two  miles 
of  valley  land  as  rich  as  the  valley  of  the 
Nile,  is  traversed  by  the  Great  Miami 
River,  covered  in  the  summer  time  with  a 
verdure  of  Indian  corn  unsurpassed  on  the 
entire  globe.  The  Hoaglands  were  early 
settlers  in  Bethel  township,  Miami 
County.  The  sons,  afterward  citizens  of 
Troy,  started  the  manufacture  of  the 
famous  Royal  Baking  Powder  here,  and 
later  moved  to  the  city  of  New  York  and 
became  millionaires  many  times  over. 
Bethel  was  the  most  populous  section  of 
the  county  in  1807  when  the  county  was 
organized  and  was,  therefore,  the  first 
named  township  in  the  county.  The  prin- 
cipal reason  for  this  condition  consisted 
in  the  fact  that  the  population  advanced 
from  the  Ohio  River.  Hamilton  County 
was  organized  in  1790  but  on  account  of 
“The  Bloody  Period”  the  population  was 
largely  confined  to  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Washington  (Cincinnati).  After  the 
Greenville  Treaty  in  1795  there  was  a 
steady  stream  of  men  and  families  from 
the  river  found  their  way  northward  until 


THE  HOME  OF  ADDISON  F.  BROOMHALL 

Addison  F.  Broomhall.  settled  in  Troy  in  1879  ; was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881.  Married  Estella  M. 
Baird  December  25th,  1882.  They  have  two  children:  Baird,  attorney-at-law,  and  Corinna,  wife  of 
Mr.  O.  W.  L.  Coffin  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr.  Broomhall  is  still  practicing  his  profession  in  Troy,  in 
association  with  his  son,  under  the  firm  name  of  Broomhall  & Broomhall. 


WILLIAM  JUDSON  CLYDE 

The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  one  mile  north  of  Casstown,  on  the  George  C.  Clyde  home  farm 
on  February  14,  1842,  in  a one  story  log  house.  He  lived  with  his  parents,  George  C.  Clyde  and  Priscilla 
Knight  until  manhood,  receiving  his  education  at  the  Casstown  schools  in  Lost  Creek  township,  Miami 
county,  together  with  the  Troy  schools  which  he  attended  after  he  was  12  years  of  age.  On  December  4, 
1863,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Green  from  which  union  four  children  were  born  : George  M.  Clyde, 
Mrs.  Melli  Gabriel,  Mrs.  Gertrude  Marr,  and  William  Clyde,  deceased.  He  studied  law  after  marriage 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Troy  which  he  prosecuted  for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  except  two  terms 
as  county  prosecutor  and  two  terms  as  Probate  Judge  of  Miami  county,  the  latter  between  1885-91.  Judge 
Clyde  was  in  the  fore  front  of  the  bar  and  a convincing  political  orator.  There  was  an  earnestness  and 
ruggedness  in  his  presentation  of  a subject  that  carried  conviction  to  his  hearers.  He  died  in  Troy,  Ohio, 
on  December  12  1898,  and  his  remains  were  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  He  and  family  worshipped  at  the 
First  Baptist  church  in  Troy. 

The  son-in-law  of  William  J udson  Clyde,  Harry  T.  Gabriel,  of  the  foregoing  sketch  and  picture  was  born 
on  April  12,  1869,  at  Piqua.  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  lived  with  his  father  and  mother,  Milton  F.  Gabriel 
and  Miriam  Garvey,  until  manhood,  who  moved  to  Troy,  when  he  was  an  infant.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Troy.  He  married  Mss  Melli  E.  Clyde,  on  June  17,  1899.  He  entered  the  shoe  business 
with  his  brother-in-law,  George  Clyde,  under  the  firm  name  of  Clyde  & Gabriel,  purchasing  his  partner’s 
interest  in  1915.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Troy  club  and  attends  the  First 
Baptist  church  and  ranked  with  the  successful  and  substantial  business  men  of  Troy. 


JOANNA  WITTER  ALLEN 


Born  at  Ellsworth,  Ohio,  March  8,  1827,  belonged  to  a family  no  less  distinguished  than  the  Edwards 
family. 

Samuel  Allen  and  his  wife,  Ann,  left  their  home  in  Bridgewater,  England  ir?  1620,  and  came  to 
America  locating  in  Baintree,  Mass.,  ten  miles  southeast  of  Boston. 

Samuel  Allen,  a representative  of  the  second  generation,  was  Town  Clerk  of  East  Bridgewater,  Massa- 
chusetts in  1660.  He  had  a sister,  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Lieutenant  Miles  Standish,  a son  of 
Miles  Standish.  Samuel  Allen,  the  second,  married  Sarah  Partridge  and  her  son  Samuel,  the  third,  was 
married  to  Rebecca  Carey  in  1685,  by  whom  he  had  a son.  Joseph  Allen,  who  was  born  at  Bridgewater, 
Massachusetts,  in  1701.  In  1727,  they  moved  to  Norwich,  Connecticut,  and  in  1729,  he  married  Rebecca  Fuller. 
Their  son,  Asahel  Allen,  was  born  in  1743  and  was  married  in  1765  to  Desire  Eames,  from  which 
union  a son,  Enoch  Allen,  was  born  (1768)  and  married  Betsy  Witter  (1793),  and  they  had  a son,  Asa  W. 
Allen,  born  in  1795,  who  compiled  and  published  a history  of  the  Allen  family,  which  was  printed  in 
Salem  Ohio,  in  1872.  Asa  W.  married  Sophia  Hopkins  of  Edmeston,  New  York,  in  1818.  The  mother 
was  the  daughter  of  Chauncey  Hopkins  of  Bennington,  Vermont,  and  granddaughter  of  Gen.  Ebenezer  Wal- 
bridge,  an  official  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  and  in  the  Revolutionary  War  who  took  an  active 
part  in  the  battles  of  Bennington  and  Fort  Ticoderoga  and  aided  in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  at  the  battle 
of  Saratoga,  which  decided  the  independence  of  the  thirteen  colonies. 

From  the  union  of  Asa  Allen  and  Sophia  Hopkins  was  born  Joanna  W.  Allen,  the  original  of  the  above 
picture,  who  was  the  mother  of  Ogden  Edwards.  She  died  on  Jan.  23,  1918  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
one  years  in  full  possession  of  her  mental  faculties  and  sleeps  in  our  beautiful  Riverside. 

Her  marriage  to  Jonathan  O.  Edwards  on  May  19,  1859,  united  two  families  who  had  borne  a 
distinguished  part  in  the  history  of  the  thirteen  original  colonies  and  the  United  States. 

Ethan  Allen,  son  of  Joseph  Allen,  was  born  at  Litchfield,  Conn.,  Jan.  10,  1737.  Early  in  1775,  he  ap- 
peared before  Ft.  Ticonderoga  and  demanded  its  surrender.  When  the  British  commander  demanded  his 
authority,  he  replied,  “In  the  name  of  the  great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress.”  The  military  post 
near  Burlington,  Vermont,  is  named  in  honor  of  this  great  partisan  hero. 


WILLIAM  PERRINE  ORR 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  picture  was  of  English  extraction.  His  father  lived  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  as  a 
young-  man,  and  followed  the  avocation  of  brick  and  stone  mason  burning  his  own  brick.  Near  Dayto* 
lived  a farmer  named  Nathan  Worley,  blessed  with  a comely  daughter  whom  Joshua  On*  wooed,  won,  and 
wed  on  December  22,  1822.  They  moved  to  Connersville,  Indiana,  where  their  first  child,  JVlartha,  was  born 
on  September  13,  1823,  in  which  year  they  moved  back  to  Dayton  where  Nathan  was  born  on  February  7, 
1826;  Rachel  Susannah,  on  January  23  1828;  and  John  M.  Orr,  March  1,  1831,  in  which  year  they  moved 
to  Covington,  Miami  County,  where  William  Perrine  was  born  on  April  30,  1834 ; ' Thomas  Stephen,  on 
January  29,  1836 ; Margaret  Elizabeth,  on  January  6,  1840  ; Caleb  Worley  and  Joshua  Williamson,  on 
December  24,  1845,  the  two  latter  being  twins. 

William  Perrine  bid  farewell  to  family  and  friends  before  he  had  attained  his  majority  and  after  a year 
in  California,  came  back  to  Covington,  and  embarked  in  the  grocery  trade  and  for  a short  time  in  the  dry 

goods  business.  He  married  Martha  Morrison,  of  Covington,  on  May  23,  1854,  from  which  union  were  born 

Morrison  and  Louis  H.  Orr.  Soon  after  marriage  he  became  a partner  of  his  brother-in-law,  David 
Harmer,  and  associated  with  him  his  brother,  C.  W.  Orr,  in  general  trading  at  Gettysburg,  Darke  County. 
They  bought  hogs,  steers,  and  other  stock,  fed  and  slaughtered  them,  sold  dry  goods  and  groceries,  dealt 
in  all  kinds  of  country  produce  and  as  he  expressed  it  himself,  “We  dealt  in  everything  from  a millinery 
shop  to  a tannery.”  He  once  said  to  me,  “I  have  literally  waded  through  most  of  the  slashes  of  Darke 
County  in  my  search  for  stock.”  He  moved  to  Piqua  in  1869. 

On  May  2,  1864,  he  left  for  the  front  as  captain  of  Company  C,  152,  O.  V.  I.  and  operated  with  his 
command  at  New  Creek  and  Beverly,  Virginia,  and  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  was  mustered  out  September 
2,  1864,  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

He  was  the  Republican  candidatte  for  Congress  in  1894,  making  an  excellent  showing  in  a hopelessly 

Democratic  district  composed  of  Preble,  Darke,  Shelby,  and  Miami  counties.  He  served  on  the  staff  of 

Governor  Asa  Bushnell  from  1896  to  1900.  He  served  30  years  consecutively  as  councilman  for  Piqua.  At 
one  time,  it  was  proposed  to  repudiate  the  bonds  voted  by  the  city  issued  in  aid  of  the  famous  Jerusalem 
and  Japan  railroad,  but  Orr  said,  “No  ! The  honor  of  Piqua  is  behind  these  bonds  and  must  be  paid.”  He 
was  president  for  years  of  the  Citizens  National  and  the  savings  bank  and  an  officer  in  The  Piqua  National. 
He  founded  and  endowed  The  Memorial  Hospital  and  the  Nurses’  Home  in  Piqua.  His  second  wife,  a 
sister-in-law  cf  Senator  Calvin  Brice,  died  in  1904.  He  was  at  the  head  of  The  Orr  Felt  and  Blanket  Com- 
pany, from  1901  to  the  time  of  his  death.  This  concern  is  capitalized  at  $900,000,  of  which  $450,000  fc 
preferred  and  $450,000  common  stock.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  He  died  on  May  23,  1912. 

“ ’Twas  at  thy  door,  O friend. 

And  not  at  mine. 

The  Angel  with  amarinthine  wreath, 

Pausing,  descended  and  with  a voice  divine 
Whispered  a word  that  had  a sound  like  death.” 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


291 


Butler  County  was  organized  in  1803  and 
the  same  year  Montgomery  County  was 
organized,  and  still  the  tide  pushed  north- 
ward until  Miami  was  organized  in  1807 
with  Bethel,  as  before  stated,  as  the  first 
township.  It  was  this  township  that  had 
the  first  turnpike,  the  great  National  Road 
put  through  during  the  administration  of 
James  Monroe  at  a cost  of  $6,000,000  run- 
ning from  Baltimore  to  St.  Louis.  This 
furnished  a more  direct  route  to  the  West 
than  the  Ohio  River.  The  mail  was 
brought  from  the  east  to  the  west  over  this 
highway  once  each  week  when  the  trans- 
portation of  a letter  cost  twenty-five  cents. 
It  was  over  this  road  that  much  of  the 
products  of  the  west,  especially  great 
droves  of  cattle,  were  sent  east.  Brandt 
was  made  a stopping  place  and  a hotel 
erected  there.  This  village  has  been  out- 
stripped by  Phoneton  at  the  crossing  of 
the  National  Road  and  the  Troy  and  Day- 
ton  turnpike  on  the  east  side  of  the  Miami. 
It  is  the  long  distance  telephone  exchange, 
said  to  be  the  greatest  exchange  in  the 
world. 

John  Hilliard  entered  section  30  in 
Spring  Creek  township  and  moved  his 
family  there  in  1797  and  after  clearing  a 
place  for  corn  and  erecting  his  cabin,  he 
died.  His  progeny  are  numerous  in  that 
township  today. 

Robert  M.  Pearson,  of  Newton  Town- 
ship, many  years  dead,  was  somewhat 
noted  for  his  stories  of  the  early  days. 
He  was  a splendid  farmer,  and  noted  for 
the  great  interest  he  had  always  taken  in 
the  Masonic  work,  being  an  active  member 
of  the  Knights  Templars  for  many  years. 
On  account  of  his  standing  throughout  the 
county,  we  copy  the  following  from  The 
Buckeye  of  Thursday,  July  30,  1896, 
edited  by  Capt.  E.  S.  Williams,  our  former 
Congressman : 


“UNCLE  BOB”  TELLS  A BEAR, 

SNAKE,  DOG  AND  EAGLE  STORY 

About  the  Old  Pioneers  of  Neivton  Town- 
ship. They  Were  Splendid  Examples 
of  Manhood  and  Womanhood 

Some  months  ago,  Robert  M.  Pearson, 
“Uncle  Bob”  as  he  is  called  by  old  and 
young,  came  into  the  Buckeye  office.  Work 
was  not  pressing  at  the  time,  and  knowing 
that  “Uncle  Bob”  always  had  a store  of 
old-time  stories  on  hand,  we  nodded  to  our 
stenographer,  who  quietly  took  the  hint 
and  her  pencil.  We  opened  up  the  con- 
versation with  “Uncle  Bob.” 

“I  am  told  you  have  a good  supply  of 
bear  stories  and  at  the  Masonic  banquet,  I 
heard  that  you  told  a tale  that  made  Tom 
Kyle  whistle.  Let  us  have  one  of  your 
biggest  and  best  bear  stories.” 

“Well,  now,  Captain,  it  sort  of  hurts  my 
feelings  to  hear  you  speak  so  lightly  of 
the  bear  stories.  I believe  every  word  in 
them  for  the  reason  I heard  the  old  men 
tell  them,  and  they  never,  or  hardly  ever, 
exaggerated  in  the  least.  My  father  set- 
tled in  this  county  in  1806.  Bears  were 
plenty,  deer  and  wild  turkeys  furnished 
the  early  pioneers  meat  and  Indians  were 
settled  in  the  counties  north  of  us  and 
hunted  up  and  down  Stillwater  and  the 
Miami  rivers.  I heard  mv  father  relate 
many  a tale  about  Uncle  Henry  Williams 
and  some  of  the  other  settlers  who  lived 
near  where  Pleasant  Hill  is  now  located. 
One  of  his  favorite  stories  was  of  the  hunt 
in  which  Uncle  Henry  and  several  of  his 
neighbors  engaged.  One  morning  they 
went  with  guns  and  dogs  through  the 
woods,  towards  the  Miami  River,  along  a 
wet  and  marshy  country  it  was  then,  but 
now  comprises  some  of  the  best  farms  in 
Monroe  and  Newton  townships.  A good 
dog,  in  those  days,  was  considered  a valu- 
able piece  of  property  and  Uncle  Henry 
Williams  had  a noted  dog  called  ‘Old 
Faithful.’  After  hunting  for  several  hours 
Uncle  Henry  saw  a flock  of  buzzards  sail- 


292 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


ing  around  a thickety  place  and  concluded 
he  would  find  what  was  the  attraction. 
On  his  way  there,  he  ran  right  on  to  a she- 
bear  and  her  cubs.  The  cubs  ran  up  a 
tree,  but  the  old  bear  stayed  down  to  fight 
the  dogs  which  were  so  thick  around  her 
that  he  was  afraid  to  shoot  for  fear  that 
he  would  hit  one  of  the  dogs.  The  old 
bear  caught  sight  of  him  and  with  a howl 
of  rage  brushed  the  dogs  aside  and  made 
for  the  man.  Uncle  Henry  started  to  run 
and  tripped  his  foot  on  a grape  vine  and 
fell,  just  as  the  bear  made  a grab  for  him. 
He  thought  his  time  had  come,  and  the 
bear  would  quickly  have  settled  his  fate, 
but  Old  Faithful,  with  a quick  bound, 
caught  the  bear  by  the  nose  and  held  his 
holt,  and  the  other  dogs  piled  in  all 
around  the  bear,  which  gave  Uncle  Henry 
a chance  to  get  to  his  feet.  Old  Faithful 
bravely  held  his  holt,  although  the  bear 
was  using  her  claws  with  fearful  effect 
In  the  meantime  the  dogs  were  snapping 
and  biting  the  bear  so  that  her  time  was 
fully  occupied.  Uncle  Henry  took  in  the 
situation  that  something  must  be  done 
quickly  or  he  would  lose  his  good  old  dog. 
He  took  quick  aim  and  fortunately  shot 
the  bear  through  the  heart.  He  then  went 
to  see  what  the  buzzards  were  after,  and 
found  a dead  snake  ten  feet  long  close 
by  what  looked  like  a hog  wallow,  which 
on  closer  inspection  he  found  to  be  a 
strong  spring  that  would  boil  up  every 
minute.  That  was  the  first  time  the  boil- 
ing spring  had  ever  been  seen  by  a white 
man.  Some  years  afterward,  Samuel 
Pearson  settled  at  the  spring.  The  spring 
is  a great  curiosity;  it  boils  up  like  hot 
water  in  a tea  kettle  and  is  worth  going 
miles  to  see.  Samuel  Pearson’s  son,  Eli 
Pearson,  lived  there  all  his  life  and  Eli’s 
sons  now  own  the  spring  and  eighty  acres 
of  land.  The  branch  runs  in  a northerly 
direction.  The  land  along  it  in  early  days 
was  quite  wet  and  swampy.  It  run  through 
the  land  afterwards  owned  by  the  Kerrs, 
Westlakes,  Thomases  and  Pecks  and  emp- 


tied into  the  Miami  River  three  miles 
south  of  Troy.” 

“Do  you  recollect  anything  of  the  early 
settlers  of  your  neighborhood?” 

“Yes,  the  early  settlers  over  on  Still- 
water were  the  Iddings,  Hills,  Pearsons, 
and  Michael  Williams’  family.  My  grand- 
father worked  at  wagon-making  with  his 
son,  John.  The  old  gentleman  was  of  a 
very  jovial  disposition,  and  did  not  know 
what  fear  was ; he  had  no  apparent  knowl- 
edge of  danger.  I have  often  heard  father 
tell  about  old  John  Williams  who  lived  on 
the  river  west  of  Pleasant  Hill.  He  said 
that  the  old  pioneer  was  laying  in  the 
shade  of  his  cabin,  looking  up  at  the  sky, 
when  a large  eagle  flew  by  with  what  ap- 
peared to  him  to  be  a weed  poised  in  his 
talons.  The  eagle  for  some  reason  let  go 
of  the  weed  and  as  it  fell  it  got  larger  and 
larger  and  when  it  struck  the  ground  he 
found  it  to  be  a large  sycamore  limb.  He 
said  that  he  had  seen  some  eagle’s  nests 
that  contained  a cord  and  a half  of  wood. 
There  were  no  ditches  in  those  days,  and 
the  way  the  settlers  made  ditches  was  to 
hitch  the  oxen  to  a big  stone  and  drag  it 
up  and  down  the  slope  of  the  ground  in 
order  to  run  the  water  off  of  their  fields  in 
the  spring.” 

“Now,  Uncle  Bob,  is  not  that  a whop- 
per?” 

“Fact,  a solid  fact;  that  is  the  way  our 
first  ditching  was  done  in  this  county. 
There  was  no  county  and  township 
ditches,  nor  big  neighborhood  quarrels, 
nor  lawsuits,  they  just  hauled  a big  stone 
up  and  down  the  way  they  wanted  the 
water  to  run.” 

“Now,  Mr.  Pearson,  do  you  suppose  the 
readers  of  The  Buckeye  will  believe  that 
eagle  story?” 

“Well,  I don’t  know;  a community  has 
got  to  be  educated  a good  deal  before  it 
believes  the  truth.” 

“What  about  your  schools?” 

“Why,  about  the  third  school  taught  in 
Newton  Township  was  taught  in  my 
father’s  house  by  Esther  Coppock,  the 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


293 


mother  of  David  Coppock.  There  are 
many  things  in  the  early  history  of  our 
county  that  would  be  of  great  interest  to 
the  young  people  of  today,  who  read  and 
think,  many  things  that  ought  to  be  looked 
up  and  preserved  in  public  print.  These 
old  pioneers  were  rugged,  rough  and  hon- 
est and  had  brave  spirits  and  manly 
hearts.  The  old  mothers  who  shared  the 
hardships  of  frontier  life  were  noble  wom- 
en ; they  could  not  play  the  piano,  nor  did 
they  wear  fine  silks,  but  wore  cotton 
dresses  in  the  summer  and  linsey  in  the 
winter,  the  cloth  of  which  was  spun  and 
woven  by  them.  They  were  our  mothers 
and  I for  one,  honor  their  memory  and 
believe  they  were  the  noblest  women  that 
ever  the  sun  shone  upon.” 

Thus  ended  our  talk  with  “Uncle  Bob” 
and  we  believe  with  him  that  the  old  pio- 
neer fathers  and  mothers  were  splendid 
examples  of  manhood  and  womanhood 
and  their  memories  should  be  cherished  in 
the  hearts  of  every  descendant  of  the  old 
pioneer  stock. 

The  above  story  of  “Uncle  Bob”  Pear- 
son makes  it  impossible  for  me  to  withhold 
a bear  story  of  a much  later  date  in  which 
I played  an  unusually  interesting  part. 
Col.  William  Hines,  of  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  his  wife  and  daughter  with  Mrs.  Ster- 
rett  and  myself  entered  Yellowstone  Park 
at  Livingston,  Montana,  in  August,  1892, 
and  stayed  our  first  night  at  the  Mon- 
mouth Hotel  and  lunched  the  next  day  at 
Norris  Station,  half  way  between  the  Mon- 
mouth and  Fountain  Hotels.  At  the  latter 
hotel  we  spent  our  second  night  in  the 
Park  and  it  was  there  that  Col.  Hines  and 
myself  had  our  first  experience  and  first 
sight  of  a wild  Bruin.  Some  one  during 
the  day  had  told  the  Colonel  that  wild  bears 
came  down  from  their  forest  fastnesses  to 
eat  the  offal  carted  from  the  hotel  about  a 
quarter  of  a mile  and  dumped  at  the  edge 
of  a prairie  and  a vast  timber  land.  Im- 
mediately after  our  evening  meal,  we  lay 
down  in  the  grass  some  hundreds  of  yards 
distant  from  the  offal  to  wait  for  the 


bears.  The  first  to  appear  were  three 
black  bears  who  rooted  around  in  the  offal 
for  some  time  until  a large  cinnamon  bear 
appeared  on  the  scene  and  proceeded  to 
drive  the  smaller  black  bears  to  one  side 
and  who  were  only  permitted  to  feed  from 
the  edge.  I ran  to  the  hotel  to  bring  Mrs. 
Hines  and  daughter  and  my  wife  to  get  a 
view  of  these  animals  in  a wild  state,  to  be 
seen  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives  and  got 
them  there  in  time  to  accomplish  this  pur- 
pose before  the  bears  loped  off  in  the 
woods  on  catching  sight  of  a crowd  of  peo- 
ple coming  toward  them  from  the  hotel,  in- 
duced by  my  hasty  departure  with  our 
women.  Later  on,  the  Colonel  suggested 
that  the  bears  would  come  back  to  their 
feeding  place  and  we,  accordingly,  took 
our  former  position  on  the  prairie  and 
did  not  have  long  to  wait  until  the 
same  bears  came  in  the  same  order 
to  resume  their  feeding.  The  Colonel 
finally  suggested  that  we  arise  and 
walk  up  on  the  feeding  bears  and  I 
declined  on  the  ground  that  what  knowl- 
edge I had  of  Bruin  made  me  believe  that 
he  would  get  mad  and  be  dangerous,  if  in- 
terrupted. The  Colonel  assured  me  that 
these  wild  bears  were  so  used  to  the  sight 
of  men  that  they  would  run  off  if  we  ap- 
proached; upon  which  I assented  and  we 
arose  and  walked  toward  them  and  sure 
enough  they  scampered  off.  The  cinnamon 
bear  with  ponderous  lopes  disappeared  in 
the  forest  while  the  three  black  bears 
climbed  up  pine  trees  about  50,  75  and  100 
feet  high  respectively.  When  Hines  sug- 
gested that  we  club  them  until  they  came 
down,  I objected  on  the  ground  that  we 
would  thereby  gain  no  better  view  of  them 
and  besides,  it  might  be  dangerous.  He 
assured  me  that  as  soon  as  they  struck  the 
ground  they  would  scoot  off  into  the  woods 
as  the  cinnamon  bear  had  done,  wThereupon 
I assisted  him  in  the  clubbing  act.  When 
the  one  nearest  descended  the  tree  on  the 
opposite  side  from  us,  I congratulated  him 
on  his  knowledge  of  the  bear  and  further 
complimented  him  when  the  second  bear 


294 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTV 


descended  his  tree,  also  on  the  side  of  it 
away  from  us  but  when  the  third  one  from 
the  higher  perch  started  down  on  our  side 
vociferating  his  anger  on  the  way,  I va- 
cated the  locality  with  great  expedition 
making  for  the  trunk  of  an  uprooted  pine 
tree  about  150  feet  in  length  which  at  the 
point  where  I struck  it  was  some  three 
feet  off  of  the  ground  being  held  up  by  the 
limbs  which  had  broken  off  and  penetrated 
the  ground.  On  the  road  I had  sunk  up  to 
the  middle  in  quick  silver,  quite  prevalent 
in  that  locality,  but  finally  reaching  my 
goal,  I turned  to  look  for  Hines  and  the 
bear.  He  was  running  on  a straight  line 
with  the  trunk  of  my  tree  toward  the  roots 
of  the  same  which  sprangled  out  to  a 
height  of  15  feet  and  at  least  150  away 
from  the  extreme  top,  some  50  feet  from 
where  I was  trembling  in  horror  at  the 
sight  of  my  friend,  with  hat  off,  looking 
back  over  his  shoulder  at  the  bear  but  a 
few  feet  behind  him.  When  the  feet  of 
Hines  struck  the  lower  roots  of  the  tree 
his  impetus  threw  him  upward  into  the  air 
with  a parabolic  curve,  which  made  me 
mentally  exclaim  “Poor,  Hines,  when  he 
lands  into  that  fifteen  foot  hole  from 
which  those  roots  were  extracted,  the  bear 
failing  to  eat  him  up,  he  will  break  his 
neck  anyway.”  I was  partially  relieved 
when  I saw  the  bear  running  up  through 
the  dark  woods,  having  apparently  over- 
leaped the  pit  but  when  I hallooed  with  all 
my  strength,  with  my  heart  in  my  throat 
and  received  no  answer,  “I  was  almost 
froze  with  skeer.”  On  my  second  halloo 
Hines  came  from  around  the  corner  of  the 
roots  and  to  my  interrogation  of  “Hines, 
are  you  hurt?”  he  answered,  “No!  but  I 
am  the  worst  scared  man  in  Yellowstone 
Park.”  On  the  road  back  to  the  Fountain 
Hotel,  we  got  to  laughing  over  the  incident 
until  we  became  hysterical  and  lay  down 
and  rolled  into  a quick  silver  hole,  the  re- 
sult of  which  made  the  janitor  one  dollar 
richer  for  cleaning  our  clothes.  This  story 
has  little  to  do  with  the  history  of  Miami 
County  but  it  had  a lot  to  do  with  the 


author  of  this  history,  and  is,  I believe,  a 
better  bear  story  than  the  one  above 
related  by  “Uncle  Bob.” 

In  the  early  day,  flax  was  extensively 
raised  and  manufactured  into  linen  cloth 
and  used  for  summer  wearing  apparel,  bed 
clothes,  table  covers,  and  grain  sacks,  sew- 
ing thread,  home  made  and  of  flax. 

Nearly  every  farmer  kept  a flock  of 
sheep  from  twenty-five  in  number  and  up- 
ward. In  the  first  warm  days  of  Spring, 
the  sheep  would  be  driven  to  the  creek, 
thrown  in  and  thoroughly  washed,  which 
was  much  more  greatly  enjoyed  by  the 
boys  than  such  occupations  as  digging 
potatoes  and  hoeing  corn.  The  sheep  were 
confined  in  a pen  usually  made  of  split 
rails  and  returned  there  after  washing  and 
sheared,  the  wool  being  taken  to  the  card- 
ing machine  and  manufactured  into  rolls 
which  were  then  taken  home  where  the 
women  of  the  family  spun  it  into  yarn.  It 
was  then  colored,  taken  to  the  weaver, 
which  if  not  one  of  the  family,  was  always 
a near  neighbor.  The  whole  population 
was  clothed  almost  exclusively  in  this 
home  made  goods  during  the  Winter  time. 
When  wool  and  flax  yarn  were  used  to- 
gether, the  goods  was  called  Linsey- 
woolsey.  Nearly  all  flocks  of  sheep  had 
two  or  three  black  ones  among  them  and 
their  wool  mixed  with  the  white,  gave  a 
favorite  dark  grey  which  was  prized  for 
stocking  yarn  and  children’s  wear.  When 
a boy,  I was  taught  to  spin  on  the  “Big” 
and  “Little”  wheels,  a picture  of  each  that 
were  used  by  my  mother  appear  in  this 
book.  I was  also  taught  to  knit  but  never 
became  expert  enough  to  turn  the  heel.  As 
I now  write  at  11  o’clock  in  the  night  of 
this  19th  day  of  November,  1917,  my  wife, 
one  of  the  expert  knitters  of  Troy,  is  fin- 
ishing a sweater  to  be  worn  by  a Troy 
selective,  soon  to  join  our  boys  at  the  front 
in  Flanders.  In  our  pioneer  meetings,  we 
hear  much  about  the  decline  of  virility, 
since  the  early  day  about  which  we  are 
writing  and  in  a degree  only  is  any  part 
of  this  true.  There  is  a greater  per  cent 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


295 


of  expert  knitters  in  1917  than  in  1800  and 
we  would  be  better  off  if  we  did  not  have 
any.  It  seems  a waste  of  time  for  women 
to  spend  twenty  to  thirty  hours  knitting  a 
pair  of  socks  when  a great  machine  can 
turn  out  thousands  of  them  in  the  same 
time  with  much  less  expense  per  pair.  What 
mummery  to  extol  the  good  old  primitive 
day,  with  its  imperfect  plow,  when  you  can 
turn  four  smooth  furrows  and  more  with 
a traction  engine  ? Who  wants  to  go  back 
to  the  back  breaking  sickle  with  which  a 
half  acre  of  land  could  be  cut  over  by  one 
man  in  a day’s  work  when  you  can  now  cut 
ten  acres  and  bind  it  with  one  man,  three 
horses  and  a machine  ? Who  wants  the  old 
log  school  house  with  the  half-baked  teach- 
er, with  his  cruel  birch  whipping  rod  when 
we  now  have  township  high  schools  with 
excellently  trained  teachers  to  not  only 
teach  the  wisdom  to  be  learned  from  text 
books  but  also  the  sweet  and  tender  accom- 
plishments of  personal  behavior;  and  city 
high  schools  in  every  county  whose  course 
is  almost  equal  to  early  colleges.  Who 
wants  to  listen  to  the  pounding  and  thun- 
dering noise  of  the  pioneer  preacher  who, 
if  you  did  not  bring  forth  his  peculiar  kind 
of  fruit  and  mete  for  repentance,  slid  you 
down  into  a hell  filled  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone where  he  broiled  and  sizzled  you  for- 
ever and  forever,  when  you  can  now  listen 
to  a modern  Doctor  of  Divinity  delivering 
profound  disquisitions  on  the  real  philoso- 
phy of  life  and  the  cleaner  and  higher  cul- 
ture of  our  immortal  souls?  Who  wants 
to  go  back  to  the  early  Court  House  when 
the  court  bar  and  the  drinking  bar  were 
held  in  adjoining  rooms,  when  our  Gov- 
ernors and  Judges  on  the  bench  were  the 
best  customers?  Who  wants  to  go  back  to 
the  Saturdays  in  the  towns  when  street 
fights  and  drunken  brawls  were  continu- 
ous, when  our  streets  are  now  occupied  by 
clean,  well  dressed  sober  men  and  women, 
most  of  whom  have  an  automobile  to  re- 
turn them  to  their  homes?  Who  wants  to 
go  back  to  the  days  of  Linsey-woolsey 
clothing  when  you  can  now  clothe  your 


body  with  soft  cotton  and  flannels  and 
other  excellent  and,  if  need  be,  elegant  ma- 
terial ten  times  more  comfortable  than 
those  our  forbears,  from  necessity,  were 
compelled  to  wear?  If  we  could  bring 
back  the  great  fire  place  with  its  huge 
green  beach  back  log,  I would  like  it,  but 
even  then,  we  would  long  for  the  ease  con- 
nected with  turning  a valve  and  lighting  a 
match  to  create  a good  fire.  Altogether 
while  the  days  of  clap  board  roofs,  sugar 
trough  cradles,  corn  meal  graters,  punch- 
eon floors,  pennyroyal  tea  and  rye  coffee 
had  to  be  and  the  people  who  had  to  use 
them  were  brave,  self  reliant  and  mighty 
forerunners  of  which  any  posterity  should 
delight  to  emulate  their  high  and  crown- 
ing virtues,  yet,  are  not  those  who  followed 
entitled  to  equal  encomium  for  measuring 
up  to  the  requirements  of  an  advancing 
civilization.  It  is  true  that  families  of  8,  10 
and  12  children  were  common  then  and 
that  the  average  now  is  not  one-third  of 
that  number  and  that  the  present  genera- 
tion are  probably  justly  charged  with 
race  suicide  yet,  as  much  as  we  admire 
the  strenuous  Col.  Roosevelt,  the  extreme 
advocate  of  large  families,  there  is  at 
least  food  for  thought  when  we  consider 
that  a million  of  people  annually  die  of 
starvation  each  year  principally  in  India 
and  Central  Asia  and  that  while  the 
United  States  formerly  used  less  than  a 
third  of  the  bread  stuff  it  produced  it  now 
uses  three-fourths  of  it,  and  at  the  present 
growth  of  population  in  twenty  years,  we 
will  have  none  to  export  and,  in  a few 
years,  if  new  sources  of  production  are  not 
discovered,  all  of  us  will  be  compelled  to 
eat  less  and  some  of  us,  probably  not  at  all. 

I live  in  a block  in  Troy,  bounded  by 
Short,  Main,  Plum  and  Franklin  streets, 
on  which  block,  including  my  own,  ten 
families  live,  four  of  which  have  no  chil- 
dren and  each  one  of  which  is  each  day 
economizing  on  the  consumption  of  bread. 
The  situation  would  seem  to  lead  to  the 
conclusion  that  population  must  decrease 
or  food  stuff  must  increase,  if  the  world 


296 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


is  to  be  adequately  fed.  If  this  be  true,  it 
opens  up  a wide  field  of  thought,  which 
cannot  be  extended  further  at  this  point 
but  will  be  allowed  to  cruise  at  the  sweet 
will  of  each  individual  reader. 

GAME  AND  HUNTERS 

“The  rich,  juicy  grass,  cool,  sparkling 
springs,  deep  forests,  pellucid  streams,  af- 
forded sustenance  and  delightful  retreats 
for  every  species  of  game ; from  fish  to 
otter,  from  the  squirrel  to  the  cougar  and 
bear.  The  scream  of  the  “painter”  and  the 
squall  of  the  wild  cat,  mingled  with  the 
sweet  song  of  the  thrush  and  the  howl  of 
the  wolf  drowned  the  melodious  notes  of 
the  mocking  bird,  while  stolid  nruin 
roamed  the  woods  with  no  ear  for  music 
except  the  squealing  of  the  pioneer  hog. 
The  rifle  was  an  inmate  of  every  household 
in  the  use  of  which  our  forefathers  were 
very  familiar,  and  who  were  very  solici- 
tous in  keeping  it  in  perfect  working  con- 
dition. Those  who  could  afford  it,  kept 
two  rifles,  one  for  large  game  carrying 
about  forty  to  the  pound,  and  a smaller  or 
squirrel  rifle,  running  about  120  or  130  or 
140  bullets  to  the  pound.  The  powder 
horn  was  made  from  the  horn  of  the  ox, 
boiled  and  scraped  so  thin  as  to  transmit 
rays  of  light,  a round  block  of  wood  neatly 
fitted  to  the  bottom,  and  a plug  inserted  in 
the  smaller  end,  with  usually  a buzzard’s 
quill  for  a charger.  While  all  were  more 
or  less  familiar  with  the  rifle,  a few  be- 
came experts  through  constant  use,  as  a 
profession.  Among  those  who  followed  it 
as  a kind  of  profession,  we  may  mention 
Charles  Wolverton,  “Bill”  Houser,  John 
Rogers,  John  Flinn,  Henry  Kerns,  Jacob 
Mann  and  Peter  Harmon. 

All  kinds  of  larger  game  seem  to  have 
been  abundant  during  the  early  settlement 
of  the  county,  such  as  deer,  bear,  wolves, 
wildcats,  and  an  occasional  cougar.  Tur- 
keys, pheasants,  etc.,  were  abundant,  and, 
with  the  saddle,  graced  the  table  of  almost 
every  pioneer  home. 

While  it  is  impossible  at  this  late  date 


to  ascertain  the  number  of  large  animals 
killed  by  hunters,  we  can  only  judge  of  the 
abundance  of  game  by  comparison  with 
an  adjoining  county.  It  is  on  record  that 
David  Loury  and  Jonathan  Danalds, 
among  the  first  settlers  on  Mad  river, 
killed  seventeen  bears  in  one  season,  and 
that,  during  the  life  time  of  the  former, 
he  had  killed  over  a thousand  deer.  The 
bear  were  mostly  killed  off  at  an  early 
period,  yet  they  have  been  killed  in  this 
county  in  considerable  numbers.  One  was 
killed  by  Henry  Kerns  in  the  fall  of  1816, 
whose  quarters  are  said  to  have  weighed 
400  pounds.  It  was  seen  by  Dr.  Coleman 
who  ate  a piece  of  its  flesh,  and  certifies  to 
its  immense  size,  as  well  as  to  its  extra- 
ordinarily good  condition,  its  ribs  being 
covered  with  from  three  to  four  inches  of 
fat.  While  bear  were  comparatively  scarce, 
deer,  on  the  contrary,  were  in  that  early 
day,  very  plentiful.  In  a journey  from 
Stillwater  to  the  Miami,  it  was  not  un- 
usual to  see  as  many  as  eight  and  some- 
times more,  very  tame,  and  easily  ap- 
proached on  horseback.  Wild  turkeys 
were  abundant,  and  many  were  caught  in 
rail  pens,  or  killed  with  the  rifle.  The 
former  mode  was  made  use  of  when  quan- 
tities were  sought.  A common  four-square 
rail  pen  was  laid  up  about  ten  rails  high, 
and  covered,  and  an  opening  left  at  the 
bottom,  along  which  a train  of  corn  was 
sown ; the  turkeys  in  picking  up  the  corn, 
would  follow  it  into  the  pen,  and  as  a tur- 
key, when  alarmed  always  looks  up,  they 
would  always  fly  up  and  never  see  the 
opening  at  the  bottom.  Thus  whole  droves 
were  taken  at  once.  In  the  fall  of  1817,  a 
hunting  party  was  organized  in  Licking 
County,  which  was  attended  by  some  mem- 
bers of  Miami.  An  unsettled  tract,  five 
miles  square,  was  laid  off  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  the  company  of  about  150 
mento  come  in  from  four  directions,  all 
converging  toward  a common  center  of 
one  mile  square,  before  any  shooting  was 
allowed.  Having  driven  the  game  within 
the  prescribed  limits,  the  shooting  began 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


297 


and  the  crack  of  the  rifles  could  be  heard 
in  every  direction.  The  circle  gradually 
closed  in  to  half  a mile  square,  and  the 
firing  re-commenced.  The  deer  could  be 
seen  flying  from  side  to  side,  turkeys  run- 
ning in  every  direction,  and  bear  stalking 
in  the  midst.  Finally  the  circle  closed,  and 
brought  together  25  deer,  2 bear,  350  tur- 
keys and  1 wolf.  The  locality  was  far 
from  any  house,  and  darkness  approach- 
ing, most  of  the  party  camped  for  the 
night  on  the  spot.  Wagons  arrived  with 
provisions,  a good  supply  of  the  aqua  ar- 
dent, and  the  night  was  passed  in  a regu- 
lar Nimrod  festival. 

In  early  days  wolves  were  quite  plenti- 
ful and  often  destroyed  the  few  sheep  the 
settlers  had.  By  act  of  legislature  a 
bounty  of  $3.00  was  allowed  for  each  wolf 
scalp,  payable  out  of  the  County  Treasury. 
This  was  a powerful  incentive  to  the  pro- 
fessional hunters,  and  Lupus  was  in  con- 
tinual danger  of  losing  his  caput  in  every 
excursion  after  fresh  mutton.  One  of  his 
most  inveterate  enemies  was  one,  Tom 
Rogers,  who  made  wolf-hunting  a spe- 
cialty. Tom  was  a very  eccentric  character 
and  appeared  fitted  by  nature  to  his  call- 
ing. Six  feet  high,  with  mocassins,  buck- 
skin breeches,  linsey  wamus,  wolf-skin 
cap,  with  the  tail  hanging  down  behind, 
long  black  hair  and  beard,  leather  belt 
with  large  knife  and  tomahawk,  heavy 
rifle,  pouch  and  horn — all  conspired  to 
render  him  in  appearance  a fit  associate  of 
wolves,  bears  and  other  denizens  of  the 
forest;  and,  once  seen  by  his  fellows,  he 
was  not  soon  forgotten. 

Tom  was  somewhat  of  a hermit,  often 
living  for  weeks  and  months  in  the  woods 
near  the  pioneer  settlements,  watching  his 
line  of  traps,  deadfalls,  and  wolf -pens,  de- 
pending wholly  upon  game  for  sustenance. 
He  constructed  bark  huts  for  his  own  ac- 
commodation, at  different  stations  along 
his  line  of  operations,  which  he  used  as 
store  houses  for  his  venison,  turkeys,  coon 
skins,  and  wolf  scalps,  and  for  the  second- 
ary purpose  of  sleeping  in  bad  weather. 


When  convenient,  he  would  call  in  at  a 
frontier  cabin,  and  exchange  venison  or 
turkeys  for  bread,  but  the  wolf  was  his 
ambition,  and  other  game  was  slain  simply 
for  food.  Tom  generally  came  to  town 
twice  a year  to  exchange  his  wolf-scalps, 
for  their  price  in  cash,  bringing  with  him 
other  furs,  such  as  coon-skins,  mink  and 
an  occasional  otter.  He  took  advantage  of 
the  potency  of  that  delightful  perfume, 
asafoetida,  in  attracting  the  wolf  and  pur- 
chased large  quantities  of  it  to  use  on  his 
traps.  Although  records  are  lost  in  which 
the  number  of  wolf-scalps  were  kept,  with 
the  amount  paid  out  for  the  same,  yet  we 
are  assured  that  Tom  drew  largely  there- 
from. 

In  the  winter  he  would  spend  a few  days 
in  the  settlement,  at  which  time  he  was  the 
delight  of  the  circle  of  men  and  boys  who 
eagerly  listened  to  his  many  tales  of  con- 
tests with  wolves  and  bears,  while  alone  in 
the  forest,  none  of  which,  unfortunately, 
have  been  preserved.  Tom  was  exclusively 
a hunter  and  never  invested  his  earnings 
in  public  lands.  He  was  known  as  old 
Tom  Rogers  for  forty  years,  during  which 
time  his  domain  was  invaded  by  the  set- 
tlers, his  game  driven  off  or  killed,  and 
Tom  at  the  age  of  nearly  fourscore,  retired 
from  active  duties  and  sought  rest  and 
shelter  in  the  County  infirmary,  in  which 
he  spent  the  few  remaining  years  of  his 
life,  meditating  upon  and  recounting  the 
scenes  of  his  many  adventures,  and  fi- 
nally, in  about  three  years  after  his  ad- 
mission (1859)  passed  from  earth. 

Coons  were  very  numerous,  and  gener- 
ally hunted  with  dogs,  at  night,  when  the 
deep  baying  of  the  hound  was  sweet  music 
to  the  pioneer  boy  as  well  as  full  grown 
man.  The  flesh  of  the  coon  was  relished 
by  the  Indians,  but  to  the  white  man  the 
skin  was  of  value  as  a general  thing  at 
two  to  four  bits  according  to  quality. 

PIGEONS 

As  a boy  on  the  home  farm,  I have  seen 
flocks  of  pigeons,  in  such  innumerable 
squadrons  as  to  blot  out  the  rays  of  the 


298 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


sun  for  long  distances.  Standing  under 
these  navigators  of  the  sky,  I have  fired 
the  contents  of  the  old  muzzle  loading  shot 
gun  into  the  moving  masses  and  found  the 
ground  covered  at  my  feet  with  these 
birds.  They  sometimes  descended  on  a 
newly  sown  wheat  field,  always  followed 
by  the  complete  destruction  of  the  seed 
although  their  principal  forage  was  beech 
meat  so  abundant  in  the  early  day.  They 
had  numerous  roosts  in  Miami  County, 
frequently  visited  by  the  early  settlers  who 
described  the  arrival  and  settling  of  these 
enormous  legions  “like  unto  the  rushing  of 
many  waters.”  A Miami  County  historian 
has  said,  “As  settlements  were  made, 
pigeon  roosts  were  broken  up  and  the 
birds  vanished.  It  seems  that  pigeons  will 
not  remain  where  their  roosts  are  seri- 
ously molested.”  When  we  know  that 
these  legions  were  here  as  late  as  1855 
andl  to  some  extent  later  than  that,  I am 
inclined  to  the  belief  that  this  author  did 
not  quite  “hit  the  nail  on  the  head.”  His 
explanation  presupposes  that  these  birds 
migrated  to  some  other  locality,  but  did 
they?  I have  traveled  through  Canada, 
Mexico  and  extensively  in  every  state  of 
the  Union  but  find  no  evidence  anywhere 
that  these  vast  multitudes  exist  anywhere. 
They  seem  to  have  vanished  from  the  face 
of  the  earth  altogether,  most  likely  for  the 
want  of  a food  supply. 

DISAPPEARANCE  OF  GAME 

In  early  days,  wolves  were  abundant 
and  very  destructive  to  the  farmer’s  stock, 
but  under  the  stimulus  of  $3.00  bounty  for 
each  wolf-scalp,  they  became  extinct  about 
1830.  Bears  were  not  numerous  but  were 
found  occasionally  up  to  1835.  Panthers 
were  occasionally  seen  for  20  years  after- 
ward. One  was  killed  in  what  was  known 
as  “the  section”  an  unbroken  forest  up  to 
1855,  two  miles  west  of  Addison,  during 
the  latter  year.  Deer  were  quite  plenty  in 
early  times  but  they  became  extinct  in 
1853.  Wild  turkeys  were  once  very  plenty 
and  a few  to  be  found  up  to  1869.  Pheas- 


ans  were  present  in  considerable  numbers. 
They  were  a nice  game  bird,  but  from 
their  extreme  shyness,  were  difficult  to 
secure.  They  could  be  heard  during  the 
late  fall  months,  drumming  with  their 
wings,  making  a rumbling  noise,  resemb- 
ling distant  thunder.  They  became  ex- 
tinct in  1855.  Possums  and  skunks  were 
once  very  numerous  and  destructive  to 
poultry  and  still  with  us  in  limited  num- 
bers. The  fox  and  grey  squirrel,  once  so 
numerous,  are  to  be  found  yet  in  limited 
quantities.  There  are,  at  the  present  time, 
about  $15,000,000  worth  of  fire  arms  in 
Ohio,  used  exclusively  for  sporting  pur- 
poses of  which  about  $150,000  belongs  to 
Miami  County,  almost  all  of  which  are 
levelled  at  the  poor  American  rabbit,  dur- 
ing the  few  days  of  open  season  in  the 
latter  part  of  each  year.  It  costs  about 
$10,000  in  each  year,  in  Miami  County  to 
enjoy  the  pleasure  of  killing  the  “cotton 
tail.” 

The  golden  pheasant,  propagated  for  the 
past  several  years  in  Miami  County  is 
quite  numerous.  It  is  seldom  one  fails  to 
see  several  of  them  in  a drive  from  one 
point  to  another  in  the  county.  They  have 
resplendent  plumage  and  a most  edible 
flesh.  They  are  probably  more  numerous 
in  the  county  than  their  progenitors. 
Quail  were  quite  numerous  until  1845. 
The  presence  of  larger  game  saved  them 
in  early  days.  An  act  of  the  present  Leg- 
islature of  1917  makes  the  quail  a song 
bird  and  is  therefore  protected  from  the 
“potter’s”  death  by  law. 

THE  SYMMES  PURCHASE 

John  Cleve  Symmes  born  on  Long  Is- 
land, New  York,  July  21,  1742,  married  a 
daughter  of  Governor  William  Livingston 
of  New  Jersey.  In  1785-6,  he  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Continental  Congress ; was 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  Chief  Justice.  Making  a purchase 
of  a vast  tract  of  land  between  the  Great 
and  Little  Miami  Rivers,  Ohio,  he  settled 
there  toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  He  died  in  Cincinnati,  February 


the;  early  settlements  IN  MIaMI  county 


299 


26,  1814.  His  daughter,  Anna,  was  the 
wife  of  William  Henry  Harrison,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Soon  after  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  of  1787  for  the 
establishment  of  a government  northwest 
of  the  Ohio  river,  lands  in  that  region  that 
had  been  surveyed  in  anticipation  of  this 
action  of  Congress  were  sold.  The  Ohio 
Company  bought  5,000,000  acres  between 
the  Muskingum  and  Scioto  rivers,  fronting 
on  the  Ohio;  and  John  Cleves  Symmes 
purchased  2,000,000  acres  in  the  rich  and 
beautiful  region,  on  the  Ohio,  between  the 
Great  and  Little  Miami  rivers,  including 
the  site  of  Cincinnati,  for  which  he  prom- 
ised to  pay  sixty  cents  per  acre.  The  title 
to  but  600,000  acres  was  finally  secured  to 
Judge  Symmes,  he  having  defaulted  on  the 
payment  of  the  balance.  His  selection  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  for  the 
principal  city  of  this  vast  purchase,  was  a 
mistake  because  of  the  low  altitude  of  the 
land  at  that  point,  subject  to  overdo w and 
hence  the  change  to  Cincinnati,  at  one 
time  called  Losantville,  meaning  opposite 
the  mouth.  (Licking  river). 

All  of  the  land  in  Miami  County  east  of 
the  Miami  river  was  originally  in  the 
Symmes  purchase  and  all  of  it  reverted 
back  to  the  government.  All  of  the  deeds 
to  the  lands  of  Miami  County  were  signed 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

THE  JOHN  SMITH  PURCHASE 

Early  in  1800,  John  Smith  purchased  of 
the  government  16,000  acres  of  land  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Miami  County  embracing 
most  of  Lost  Creek  township  and  ap- 
pointed his  son  in  law,  Lowrey  Barbour,  to 
sell  the  same  for  him.  This  land  also  re- 
verted back  to  the  government  on  account 
of  Smith’s  default  in  payment.  Smith  lived 
near  Cincinnati,  was  a preacher,  politician 
and  speculator.  Smith  was  tried  as  a Burr 
conspirator  but  acquitted,  after  which, 
with  his  prestige  gone,  he  moved  to  Louisi- 
ana. Much  of  this  Miami  County  land 
afterward  became  the  property  of  Lowrey 
Barbour,  who  kept  a grocery  in  Troy  and 
purchased  soldiers’  claims  for  a partial 


consideration  of  their  value  and  paid  for 
them  in  goods  at  an  enhanced  value.  Mr. 
Barbour  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in 
1809,  was  a partner  in  building  the  Court 
House  on  the  public  square  with  William 
Barbee  from  1815  to  1825  and  finally 
failed  in  business. 

sociability 

“It  seemed  to  be  a matter  of  observa- 
tion that  the  Miami  River  was  a well  de- 
fined dividing  line  between  the  social  in- 
tercourse of  the  inhabitants  on  the  east 
and  west  banks.  It  can  only  be  interpreted 
by  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the  early  settlers 
who  located  on  the  west  side  were  old  ac- 
quaintances and  had  been  neighbors  in 
Kentucky  previous  to  emigration ; and 
moreover,  they  were  nearly  all  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Whereas,  on  the 
east  side,  there  were  none  except  Joseph 
Coe  and  family,  and  a Mr.  Hathaway,  who, 
though  not  a member,  inclined  in  that  di- 
rection.” We  follow  Mr.  Tullis,  who, 
being  a participant,  writes  through  in- 
spiration. When  it  is  remembered  that 
most  of  the  pioneers  of  this  valley 
were  men  in  very  limited  circumstances ; 
that  they  made  close  calculations  as 
to  how  much  land  they  could  pay  for, 
so  as  to  have  enough  to  form  a family 
colony,  and  had  left  but  a small  margin 
for  et  ceteras,  it  will  not  be  supposed  that 
they  indulged  to  any  great  extent  in  luxu- 
ries. But  few  copies  of  Paris  fashions 
were  called,  millinery  and  mantua  making 
were  rather  unpromising  vocations,  and 
music  teachers  on  the  modern  style  of 
piano-forte  could  hardly  hope  to  succeed. 
They  had  a piano,  forte,  however,  upon 
which  all  the  daughters  took  lessons  under 
the  instructions  of  mother.  I wish  my 
young  lady  readers  could  see  one  of  those 
instruments,  but  they  are  “out  of  print.” 
I cannot  undertake  a description.  The 
last  one  I ever  saw  was  under  circum- 
stances I cannot  easily  forget.  I was  liv- 
ing in  the  country;  M came  out  one 

day  to  see  if  it  would  be  convenient  for  me 


HISTORY  °F  MIAMI  COUNTY 


300 


to  come  to  town  that  evening  and  perform 
the  marriage  ceremony,  at  his  house  for 
his  benefit.  He  was  a widower  and  had 
two  or  three  half  grown  boys.  I told  him 
I would  try  to  oblige  him.  Accordingly, 
about  twilight,  I drew  up  at  his  door  and 
was  kindly  received.  The  gentleman  and 
his  sons  were  sitting  very  cosily  by  a good 
fire  and  a lady  was  giving  them  music  on 
her  piano.  After  we  had  discussed  the 
weather  and  the  news  of  the  day,  the  lady 
rose,  put  back  her  instrument,  took  off  her 
apron,  and  shook  the  shives  out  of  it  (the 
leaves  lying  before  her,  on  which  she  was 
practicing,  was  tow).  When  all  these 
preparations  were  made,  she  said  to  the 
gentleman,  “I  am  ready”;  whereupon  the 
business  for  which  we  had  met  was  con- 
summated. 

HOSPITALITY 

Hospitality  was  a leading  trait.  The 
sick  and  needy  were  as  well  cared  for  as 
they  have  been  since  Faith,  Hope  and 
Charity  were  organized.  Indeed  those 
Christian  graces  did  exist  at  that  early 
day,  though  the  process  of  combination 
came  at  a later  period.  There  was  nothing 
like  aristocracy  or  assumed  superiority, 
on  account  of  owning  more  acres  or  being 
better  born  “Fustest  families  of  Virginny” 
— nothing  of  caste  to  mar  the  free  inter- 
course of  all  on  the  common  platform  of 
equality.  It  cannot  be  disguised,  however, 
that  there  were  semi-oracles,  who  com- 
manded more  deference  on  account  of 
superior  intelligence  and  culture  than 
others  whose  opportunities  had  not  been  so 
favorable. 

The  intercourse  among  the  young  folks 
was  of  the  most  agreeable  nature.  Though 
they  met  on  the  level  and  parted  on  the 
square,  there  were  some  of  the  young  men 
more  than  others  “ladies’  men,”  and  some 
of  the  young  ladies  belles  of  a high  order, 
yet  there  was  nothing  of  jealousy  or  envy 
engendered.  Balls  and  parties  of  modern 
style  had  not  been  introduced ; indeed, 
there  was  too  much  work  to  be  done,  both 
in  the  house  and  in  the  field,  to  think  of 


amusements.  There  was  always  meeting 
on  Sunday  and  the  young  folks  would  go 
and  come  together  as  often  as  convenient. 
Meeting  was  generally  held  at  Mr.  Hatha- 
way’s or  Josey  Coe’s  and  Mr.  Barbee’s  was 
a central  point  at  which  to  rendezvous, 
being  a pleasant  walk  from  there  to  meet- 
ing. Carriages  and  buggies,  be  it  remem- 
bered, had  not  been  introduced,  and  could 
not  have  been  easily  used  on  account  of 
bad  roads.  When  the  distance  was  too  far 
to  walk,  they  traveled  on  horseback,  a boy 
in  the  saddle  and  a girl  behind  him.  All 
parties  enjoyed  that  mode  of  traveling 
hugely  (the  idea  suggested  itself  to  us  to 
leave  off  the  “e”).  Young  gentlemen 
then  were  called  boys,  and  the  young 
ladies  girls.  It  was  but  seldom  that  there 
would  be  preaching  before  Brandon  and 
the  Kyles  came  out,  which  must  have  been 
in  1806,  as  Thomas  B.  Kyle  and  Lucy  Bar- 
bee were  married  in  April,  1807.” 

In  the  early  day,  flat  boats  were  prin- 
cipally built  in  Piqua  for  the  navigation  of 
the  Miami  river.  They  were  from  fifty  to 
seventy  feet  in  length  and  twelve  feet 
wide.  They  carried  flour,  bacon,  corn, 
cherry  lumber  and  such  other  products  to 
be  found  in  the  county  at  that  time.  One 
of  the  difficult  places  to  steer  these  boats 
was  the  “99”  islands  south  of  Troy. 
Sometimes,  a community  would  join  to- 
gether and  send  a “four  horse  team”  to 
Cincinnati  to  barter  their  stuff  for  the 
things  they  needed,  principally  salt  and 
hardware.  These  methods  of  transporta- 
tion continued  until  1837,  when  the  Miami 
and  Erie  Canal  was  finished  through  the 
County. 

“Home  made  carpets  were  occasionally 
found  in  use  in  very  early  times  but  were 
not  in  general  use  until  1850.  White  gran- 
ulated sugar  was  not  on  our  markets  until 
after  1856.  The  standard  sugar  was  of 
the  New  Orleans  brand,  and  it  came  in 
large  hogsheads,  frequently  so  damp  that 
there  was  a continual  dripping  of  mo- 
lasses. As  a sample  case  of  enforced  econ- 
omy incident  to  pioneer  times,  I may  re- 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


301 


late  that  I heard  an  old  business  man  of 
Piqua  say  that  before  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  never  had  a pair  of  boots,  an 
undershirt  or  an  overcoat.” 

“The  average  pioneer  seemed  to  see  no 
impropriety  in  patronizing  the  local  dis- 
tillery. It  was  customary  to  see  the 
whiskey  bottle  acompany  the  water  jug  on 
occasions  where  a few  neighbors  were 
called  together.  It  has  often  been  said 
that  these  local  distilleries  made  a better 
grade  of  whiskey  than  is  made  today ; that 
there  was  not  so  much  poison  used  in  its 
manufacture.  This  was  possibly  true,  but 
the  fact  remained  that  it  would  put  a man 
in  the  gutter  and  keep  him  there  perhaps 
a little  longer  than  the  average  fire  water. 
From  1840  to  1850  a strong  temperance 
sentiment  developed,  and  in  a very  few 
years  whiskey  ceased  to  be  furnished  on 
public  occasions.”  About  1807  Henry 
Gerard  built  a still  house  on  Spring  Creek 
and  Henry  Orbison,  from  Virginia, 
started  a distillery  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  at  Piqua,  and  another  one  by  Mr. 
Gahagan  at  Troy  on  the  river  bank.  Cop- 
per stills  existed  in  a considerable  per  cent 
of  the  families. 

THE  DRAINAGE  SYSTEM  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 

Before  the  mound  builders,  the  Indians 
or  the  white  man  came  here,  a drainage 
system  was  formed  which  made  possible 
the  cultivation  of  the  rich  soil  so  many 
cycles  in  preparation  for  the  maintenance 
of  human  and  animal  life. 

At  an  altitude  of  one  thousand  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  in  the  south 
west  portion  of  Jackson  township  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  a dozen  springs 
of  pure  water  bubble  from  the  earth,  with- 
in a small  area  and  form  purling  branches 
which  go  murmuring  through  peppermint 
and  calamus  beds  and  other  sweet  smell- 
ing grasses  until  they  finally  joined  in  the 
head  waters  of  Honey  Creek,  flowing 
southward,  over  glacial  boulders,  through 
a fertile  little  valley  for  a distance  of  nine 
miles,  when  it  reaches  New  Carlisle,  near 


the  border  of  Miami  County  and  thence 
westward  until  it  empties  into  the  Great 
Miami  river  at  an  altitude  of  seven  hun- 
dred and  ninety  feet,  near  Tippecanoe 
City  in  Miami  county.  In  its  course,  it  is 
fed  by  an  hundred  springs  and  the  cattle 
from  an  hundred  farms  drink  on  its 
brink.  Two  thriving  villages  are  located 
on  its  banks ; the  local  academy  looks  down 
from  the  summit  of  Linden  Hill;  the  flag 
of  the  Union  floats  from  a brick  school 
house  within  each  two  miles.  There  are 
Upper  and  Lower  Honey  Creek  churches, 
McKendric  Chapel  and  six  other  churches 
in  Christiansburg  and  New  Carlisle,  and 
there  they  will  always  remain  in  some 
form  as  a reflection  of  local  color  and  com- 
munity progress.  Eight  saw  mills,  six 
grist  or  flour  mills,  one  woolen  mill,  and 
two  distilleries  at  one  time  derived  their 
power  from  this  stream ; the  giant  poplar 
and  walnut  trees,  some  of  them  known  to 
measure  twenty-eight  feet  in  circumfer- 
ence; the  great  maple  orchards  and  dense 
forests  have  vanished  forever  and  the 
places  where  they  once  stood  are  now  cov- 
ered with  golden  grain  fields  waving  and 
ripening  under  skies  and  in  a sunshine 
alike  unto  that  of  Italy,  with  an  autumnal 
season  so  perfect  and  so  gorgeous  in  its 
coloring  that  the  soul  grows  big  with  the 
sheer  thought  of  living. 

INDIAN  CREEK 

In  a series  of  springs,  in  the  northeast 
of  Lost  Creek  township,  within  three 
miles  of  the  head  waters  of  Honey  Creek, 
at  an  altitude  of  1,000  feet,  it  courses 
almost  due  south,  draining  east  Lost 
Creek  and  east  Elisabeth  townships  for  a 
distance  of  eight  miles,  when  it  assumes  a 
general  westward  course,  first  in  Elisa- 
beth and  then  in  Bethel  township,  receiv- 
ing Pleasant  Run  within  a mile  of 
Staunton  township,  then  turning  south  for 
a half  mile,  where  it  empties  into  Honey 
Creek.  On  its  banks,  in  an  early  day,  were 
located  two  flouring  mills,  four  saw  mills, 


302 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


one  powder  mill,  one  woolen  mill  and  two 
distilleries. 

PLEASANT  RUN 

On  the  farm  of  J.  M.  Studebaker,  on 
Section  29,  Elisabeth  township,  William 
McClung,  of  Section  28,  and  Martha  Rine- 
hart, of  Section  22,  are  three  wonderful 
springs,  that  gush  out  of  the  side  of  small 
hillocks  in  a volume  equal  to  a mill  race. 
The  branches  of  these  springs  join  within 
a short  distance  and  form  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  pellucid  streams  in  the 
country.  It  flows  southward  through  a 
nearly  level  country,  of  rich  farming  land, 
crossing  the  Clark  and  Miami  turnpike  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  Section  28.  At  this 
point  on  January  6,  1819,  in  a two  story 
log  house,  with  balcony  above,  was  born 
Sarah  Ullery,  my  mother.  There  was  a 
brewery,  saw  mill,  woolen  mill,  and  flour 
mill  on  this  stream  within  the  next  four 
miles  before  it  entered  Indian  creek. 

LOST  CREEK 

Forms  in  three  heads,  one  in  the  south- 
eastern, one  in  the  central  and  one  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Brown  township, 
affording  it,  its  principal  drainage  and 
also  for  central  and  east  Lost  Creek,  north 
western  Elisabeth  and  southern  Staunton. 
The  three  branches  join  each  other  near 
Casstown  and  follows  a southwest  course 
from  there  to  its  entrance  into  the  Miami, 
in  Bethel  township,  a mile  north  of  the 
entrance  of  Honey  creek  into  the  same 
stream.  It  will  be  seen  that  five  of  the  six 
eastern  townships  of  Miami  county  trend 
southwest  in  the  discharge  of  their  drain- 
age in  a large  degree.  There  were  many 
years  ago  many  saw  mills  on  Lost  creek’s 
three  branches  before  they  converged  at 
Casstown.  There  was  a saw  mill,  flour 
mill  and  distillery  near  Casstown.  The 
first  south  of  that  village  was  a flour  and 
saw  mill  at  the  point  where  the  Lefevre 
pike  crosses  this  stream  near  the  chil- 
dren’s home.  The  next,  a mile  below,  was 
the  flour  and  saw  mill  and  distillery  of 


Isaac  Sheets,  which  my  father  superin- 
tended for  some  years,  at  which  place  my 
eldest  brother  was  born  in  1840.  The  next 
was  the  Knoop  flour  and  saw  mill  and  dis- 
tillery, in  the  field  below  the  Knoop  ceme- 
tery, just  before  the  bridge  crossing  Lost 
creek  on  the  Clark  and  Miami  turnpike. 
The  altitude  here  is  815  feet  and  the 
mouth  of  the  creek  795  feet  above  the  sea 
which  did  not  provide  enough  fall  for 
other  mills. 

LEATHERWOOD  CREEK 

Rises  in  the  eastern  part  of  Brown  town- 
ship and  flows  into  Shelby  county. 
Leatherwood  timber  grew  abundantly  on 
its  banks.  Ramp  Run  in  Brown  was  so 
called  on  account  of  a vegetable,  so  named, 
that  grew  abundantly  along  its  course, 
resembling  an  Indian  turnip,  drained  a 
small  district.  Bee  Run,  named  for  the 
great  number  of  bee  trees  found  there  in 
the  early  day,  was  a tributary  of  Spring 
creek  formed  a small  drainage  district  in 
western  Brown  and  eastern  Spring  creek. 
Shawnee  creek  emptied  into  Rush  creek 
just  before  the  latter  emptied  into  the 
Great  Miami,  north  of  Piqua ; the  two 
forming  a drainage  system  for  northwest 
Spring  Creek  township. 

SPRING  CREEK 

Has  its  source  in  the  northeast  of 
Spring  Creek  township,  forms  the  drain- 
age for  the  eastern  and  central  portions 
and  courses  southwest,  entering  Staunton 
township,  near  its  northern  center.  Still 
moving  southwest,  enters  the  Great  Miami 
two  miles  north  of  Troy.  Its  head  waters 
have  an  altitude  of  1155  feet  and  its 
mouth  840  feet.  It  has  a fall  of  30  feet  to 
the  mile  and  therefore  many  eligible  mill 
sites  which  were  utilized  in  the  early  day, 
all  of  which  have  long  since  disappeared. 

NEWTON  TOWNSHIP 

The  draining  of  Newton  township  is 
principally  through  the  Stillwater  river 
and  Panther  creek,  many  smaller  branch 
streams  formed  by  numerous  springs 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


303 


coursing  from  both  the  east  and  west  into 
the  Stillwater.  The  Stillwater  divides  the 
township  into  nearly  two  equal  east  and 
west  portions  entering  the  township  from 
Newberry  on  the  north,  in  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  5,  passing  through  the 
west  half  of  8,  in  an  almost  due  south  di- 
rection through  the  northwest  quarter  of 
17  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  18  to  the 
center  of  19  and  thence  out  of  same  at 
southeast  corner  and  then  a general  south- 
east direction  through  29,  32  and  33,  on 
into  Union  township  into  section  4 as  be- 
fore described.  Panther  creek  originates 
in  Darke  county  and  its  main  branch  runs 
in  a general  east  direction  through  1,  2,  3, 
5,  and  6 joining  the  Stillwater  river  in  the 
west  center  of  section  5.  The  panthers 
were  quite  numerous  along  the  course  of 
this  stream  and  many  scalps  were  taken 
and  sold  for  $3.00  each  to  the  County 
Commissioners.  It  was  from  these  wild 
animals  that  it  derived  its  name. 

UNION  TOWNSHIP 

The  drainage  of  Union  township  is  com- 
pleted by  the  Stillwater  river  and  two 
branches  of  Ludlow  creek.  Stillwater  en- 
ters the  township  from  Newton  township 
on  the  north  near  the  center  of  section  4 
passes  in  general  southern  course  through 
9,  16,  21,  the  northeast  corner  of  28,  the 
southwest  corner  of  27,  and  leaves  the 
township  about  the  cefiter  of  section  34. 
It  is  called  Stillwater  on  account  of  its 
slow  and  placid  current.  The  north 
branch  of  Ludlow  creek  has  its  origin  in 
Darke  county  opposite  the  western  center 
of  Union  township,  flows  in  a northwest 
direction,  through  sections  15,  10  and  11, 
then  almost  due  east,  through  1,  6 and  5 
dropping  over  the  Limestone  ledge  of  30 
feet  at  Ludlow  Falls  and  thence  through 
a limetsone  chasm,  almost  due  north 
through  section  5 and  then  east  through 
section  4,  it  empties  into  the  Stillwater 
near  the  entrance  of  that  stream  into  the 
township.  The  south  branch  of  Ludlow 
creek  with  its  numerous  branches,  has  its 


origin  in  the  southwest  sections  of  the 
township  and  runs  in  a general  northwest 
direction  draining  sections  34,  35,  36,  25, 
26,  27,  22,  23,  24,  13,  14  and  7 joining  the 
main  branch  on  the  latter  section.  Lud- 
low creek  was  named  after  a surveyor  of 
that  name,  a relation  of  Col.  Ludlow,  one 
of  the  proprietors  of  Dayton. 

WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP 
Is  drained  by  the  Miami  river,  Loramie 
creek  and  numerous  small  streams  cours- 
ing from  the  west,  formed  by  numerous 
springs  which  have  not  arisen  to  the  dig- 
nity of  being  designated  as  creeks.  The 
Miami  enters  the  township  and  county  be- 
tween sections  21  of  Spring  creek  and  33 
of  Washington,  and  flows  southward  as 
the  eastern  border  of  Washington  and 
western  border  of  Spring  creek  and 
Staunton,  until  it  becomes  the  eastern 
border  of  Concord  and  western  border  of 
Staunton  at  section  32  of  the  former  and 
27  of  the  latter.  Loramie  creek  enters 
Washington  township  and  the  county 
from  Shelby  county  in  section  32,  running 
due  south  along  the  west  line  of  said  sec- 
tion and  joining  the  Miami  in  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  31.  This  is  his- 
torical ground.  Here  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Loramie  creek  was  the  first  white  settle- 
ment in  Ohio,  39  years  before  Marietta; 
here,  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clarke  in  1782 
for  the  second  time  broke  up  the  Shawnees 
driving  them  further  away  from  Ken- 
tucky on  which  all  the  tribes  north  of  the 
Ohio  were  then  preying.  Here,  Col.  John- 
ston, during  and  after  the  war  of  1812  had 
charge  of  more  than  6,000  Indians  of 
various  tribes  and  here  lived  Job  Gard  the 
first  settler  of  Washington  township  and 
the  first  resident  to  place  corn  on  the  “Big 
Bend”  at  Piqua.  Four  branches  from  the 
northwest  of  the  township  drain  all  that 
area  and  empty  their  waters  into  the  city 
reservoir  which,  in  turn,  empties  into 
Echo  Lake,  through  the  Hydraulic  canal, 
thence  into  a second  reservoir  from  which, 
by  canal,  the  waste  goes  into  the  Miami 
and  Erie  canal. 


304 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


CONCORD  TOWNSHIP 

Concord  township,  like  Washington 
township,  is  largely  drained  from  the  west 
by  small  streams  coursing  eastward  to 
discharge  their  waters  in  the  Miami.  Un- 
til within  the  past  quarter  of  a century, 
none  of  its  streams  had  arisen  to  the  dig- 
nity of  a creek,  but  finally  we  named  one 
of  these  streams  Peters’  creek,  its  north- 
western branch  originated  in  section  11, 
courses  southeast  diagonally  through  sec- 
tions 14,  13,  19,  30,  29  through  the  south- 
west section  of  the  fourth  ward  in  Troy 
and  through  the  McKaig  ditch,  joins  the 
main  branch  in  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  33  which  enters  into  the  Miami 
river,  opposite  Island  No.  Three,  one  and 
a half  miles  south  of  Troy.  The  main 
branch  also  courses  from  the  northwest 
about  an  average  mile  south  of  the  former. 
The  Miami  river  forms  the  eastern  bound- 
ary of  Concord  from  section  five  to  section 
three,  a distance  of  seven  miles.  All 
drainage  north  of  Troy  formerly  found  its 
way  into  the  Troy  hydraulic  canal  which 
being  abandoned,  now  finds  its  way  into 
the  Miami  river  through  culverts  under 
the  Miami  and  Erie  canal  which  receives 
considerable  quantities  of  spring  water  to 
be  finally  discharged  into  the  first  break 
in  the  canal  bank,  numerously  found  in 
the  disgraceful  management  of  this  im- 
portant source  of  power  and  transporta- 
tion. How  much  power  could  be  saved 
during  the  coal  famine  of  1917  with  the 
power  produced  by  a hundred  locks  from 
Toledo  to  Cincinnati.  How  many  tons 
transported  ? 

MONROE  TOWNSHIP 

Like  Washington  and  Concord,  has  but 
one  stream  aside  from  the  Miami  river 
that  has  impressed  its  size  upon  our  pro- 
genitors sufficiently  to  have  caused  them 
to  name  it  a creek.  The  Miami  forms  the 
entire  eastern  border  of  Monroe  township 
entering  it  on  the  east  side  of  section  ten 
and  leaving  it  at  fractional  section  thirty- 
six.  Brush  creek  drains  the  southwest 


section  of  Monroe  and  then  passes  into 
Union  township  section  twenty-five  and 
empties  into  Stillwater  river  in  section  35 
within  a mile  of  the  Monroe  township  line. 
In  addition  to  the  drainage  of  the  twelve 
townships  of  Miami  county  above  de- 
scribed through  river  and  creek  drainage 
the  ditch  laws  of  Ohio  have  been  utilized 
by  its  citizens  in  a larger  degree  than  most 
of  the  counties  of  the  State  and  to  such  a 
degree  that  many  of  our  large  ditches  dis- 
charge more  water  than  some  of  our 
creeks.  This  condition  rushes  any  rainfall 
to  the  main  channels  of  discharge  with 
such  rapidity  that  in  the  event  of  unusual 
precipitation  our  creeks  and  rivers  over- 
flow their  banks  in  a few  hours,  while  in 
earlier  years,  the  forests  would  have  held 
back  the  same  amount  for  some  days,  all 
of  which  teaches  that  our  rivers  should 
be  straightened  and  widened  and  clean 
from  obstruction  in  order  that  the  over- 
flow may  be  reduced  to  the  minimum  and 
the  erosion  of  the  banks  largely  prevented 
by  cross  currents. 

NEWBERRY  TOWNSHIP 

Is  drained  by  the  Stillwater  river,  Green- 
ville creek  and  Trotter’s  creek,  Albaugh 
creek  and  Harrison  creek.  The  Stillwater 
enters  the  township  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  10  and  flows  a general 
southeast  direction  through  11  and  12,  13 
and  18,  then  south  to  Covington,  thence 
through  30  and  34  into  section  5 of  New- 
ton township.  Greenville  creek  enters 
Newberry  in  section  34,  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  township,  runs  northeast  in- 
to 27,  thence  southeast  to  26  into  36,  then 
northeast  into  30,  joining  the  Stillwater  at 
Covington.,  Trotter’s  creek  originates  in 
Shelby  county  and  courses  directly  south 
through  31,  6,  8,  17  and  joins  Stillwater  in 
the  southwest  quarter  of  the  same,  one 
and  a half  miles  above  Covington.  Al- 
baugh creek  originates  in  Washington 
township  comes  through  sections  16  and 
17  and  enters  Trotter’s  creek  just  before 
the  latter  joins  the  Stillwater.  Harrison 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


305 


creek  originates  in  Darke  county,  courses 
almost  direct  east  along  and  over  the  sec- 
tion line  between  15,  23,  14  and  22,  13,  24, 
18  and  19  and  joins  Stillwater  in  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  latter  section. 

I had  formerly  intended  under  the  head 
of  drainage  to  locate  each  manufacturing 
industry  in  the  county  which  had  received 
its  power  from  our  streams  but  now  find 
my  pages  are  growing  so  rapidly  that  the 
book  must  be  issued  in  parts  rather  than 
in  a single  volume.  I have  hastily  de- 
scribed the  courses  of  twenty-four  rivers 
and  creeks  on  which  we  have  knowledge  of 
more  than  one  hundred  flouring  and  saw 
mills,  distilleries,  woolen  mills  and  powder 
factories,  not  a half  dozen  of  which  are 
standing  today.  Changed  condition  have 
banished  the  necessity  for  their  existence 
and  new  devices  have  made  them  unprofit- 
able. The  office  of  the  flouring  mill  in  the 
early  days,  was  occupied  almost  con- 
stantly by  several  neighbors  of  the  com- 
munity and  it  was  there  that  consultations 
and  discussions  occurred  on  the  social, 
political  and  religious  conditions  of  the 
times.  Who  should  teach  and  preach  for 
the  community  was  oftentimes  settled 
there.  On  a certain  Sunday,  sixty  years 
ago,  Preacher  Banta,  who  sent  people  to 
a brimstone  hell,  brought  with  him  to 
lower  Honey  creek  chapel  a young  man 
by  the  name  of  H.  Y.  Rush,  twenty-one 
years  of  age  who  preached  for  us  and  did 
not  have  quite  as  much  hell  in  it  as  Peter 
Banta  was  in  the  habit  of  dealing  out. 
The  next  day,  Micajah  Ayers,  David 
Strock  and  William  Leffell,  three  trustees 
of  the  church,  met  in  my  father’s  mill, 
when  as  a boy  of  twelve  years  of  age,  I 
was  present.  My  father  said,  “Boys,  you 
had  a fine  sermon  yesterday  and  you  had 
best  employ  him.”  Strock  replied,  “Yes, 
it  did  seem  a good  sermon  but  he  wants 
$250  per  year  to  preach  for  us.”  My 
father  said,  “If  you  employ  Rush,  I will 
give  as  much  to  your  church  as  I do  to 
McKendrie,  my  own  church”  (which  was 
$80  per  year)  and  the  trustees  employed 


him  and  he  continued  to  preach  for  many 
years  thereafter  and  at  other  Christian 
societies  in  Miami  county.  He  edited  The 
Christian  Herald  at  Dayton  for  many 
years.  He  preached  the  sermon  of  Jacob 
R.  Sterrett  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  September  20,  1863,  a young 
brother  and  sister  and,  finally,  of  my 
father  in  1885,  his  warm  personal  friend, 
who  went  to  the  Honey  creek  chapel  more 
frequently  to  hear  him  than  he  did  to  his 
own  church.  In  1898,  when  I was  Presi- 
dent of  Missouri  Commission  to  the 
Omaha  International  exposition  he  came 
to  see  me  on  his  way  back  from  a western 
trip  and  visited  with  me,  It  was  more 
particularly  at  this  time  that  I came  to 
know  the  good  man  and  really  great 
preacher  best,  and  the  great  treasure  of 
his  friendship  for  myself  and  family.  He 
assured  me  that  in  the  forty  years  with  us, 
he  had  never  retired  at  night  without  re- 
membering each  one  of  us  at  the  throne 
of  grace.  He  was  from  North  Carolina, 
graduated  at  Antioch  before  he  came  to 
us  on  Honey  creek  and  lived  and  preached 
at  West  Milton,  Miami  county,  for  several 
years  prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1906.  He  served  as  a Lieutenant  in  the 
110th  O.  V.  I.  and  was  a brave  officer  be- 
loved by  all  his  men.  “For,  verily,  he  was 
a good  man.”  Some  time  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  fifties  after  it  became  the  cus- 
tom to  trade  wheat  for  flour,  as  the  farm- 
ers hauled  their  wheat  to  Troy,  it  did  not 
pay  my  father  to  keep  a regular  miller  and 
he  had  long  years  before,  been  compelled, 
on  account  of  increased  business  affairs,  to 
abandon  that  trade.  At  times  during  the 
period  between  twelve  and  fifteen  years  of 
age,  I have  ground  wheat  and  corn  for  our 
neighbors.  Ours  was  a twenty-foot  over- 
shot wheel,  the  operation  consisted  of  pull- 
ing down  the  lever  which  raised  the  head 
gate  in  the  forebay  which  shot  the  water 
out  from  under  the  gate  into  the  buckets 
of  the  wheel  causing  it  to  turn,  which,  in 
turn,  whirled  the  mill  stone  over  the  corre- 
sponding base  stone.  The  hopper  above 


306 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  hollow  in  the  whirling  mill  stone  con- 
taining the  corn  or  wheat  was  sloped,  in 
such  manner  as  to  permit  the  grain  to  flow 
out  in  quantities  regulated  by  a small 
wheel  wound  with  twine.  A twist  to  right 
or  left  of  the  wheel  made  the  grain  pass 
from  the  hopper  in  larger  or  smaller  quan- 
tities. The  mill  stones  between  which  the 
grain  passed  ground  fine  or  coarse  by  a 
lever  which  lowered  or  raised  the  upper 
stone  from  the  nether  one.  I do  not  know 
whether  flour  and  meal  that  I produced 
was  a good  article  or  not  as  I never  heard 
from  it.  I know  my  mother  baked  some 
good  bread  from  the  flour  of  my  grinding. 
The  flouring  mill  soon  went  the  way  of  the 
distillery  and  the  latter  on  account  of  my 
mother’s  opposition  was  conducted  only  a 
few  years.  The  saw  mill  by  some  one  up 
(I  think)  to  about  1885.  Honey  creek 
from  its  origin  to  its  mouth  had  sixteen 
saw  mills,  flour  mills,  woolen  mills  and 
distilleries  located  on  its  banks,  not  one  of 
which  is  in  operation  today. 

Referring  again  to  Peter  Banta,  the  old 
time  exponent  of  a brimstone  hell,  who 
preached  so  many  years  at  lower  Honey 
Creek  church,  I am  reminded  to  relate  the 
following:  It  was  in  the  old  log  meeting 

house,  over  60  years  ago,  after  Peter  had 
preached  one  of  his  eloquent  revival  ser- 
mons at  night  and  the  congregation  was 
v/ending  its  way  homeward,  that  Jo 
Helvie,  a bound  boy  of  William  Leffel,  ad- 
joining our  home  farm,  said,  “I  wonder 
how  much  hotter  a brimstone  fire  is  than 
a wood  fire,”  when  Henry  Leffel  replied, 
“About  seven  times  as  hot.”  Jo  replied, 
“It  will  be  no  use  sending  me  there,  I 
could  never  stand  it.” 

Bread  is  the  staff  of  life  and  the  first 
factories  established  in  Miami  county 
were  the  grist  mills  for  converting  the 
corn  into  meal  and  the  wheat  into  flour 
and  a study  of  the  mills  erected  in  the 
first  decade  of  the  history  of  Miami  county 
is  full  of  interest. 

The  first  mill  in  Miami  county  was 
located  at  Piqua  and  was  owned  by  John 


Manning,  who  was  employed  as  “axe 
man”  in  the  establishment  of  the  Mason 
and  Dixon  line.  In  1789  he  built  a grist 
mill  on  the  Monongahela  river,  which  he 
sold  out  and  pushing  on  into  the  North- 
west territory  started  a grist  mill  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Miami.  After  operating  this 
mill  for  three  years  he  went  up  the  river 
about  eight  miles  where  he  established  an- 
other grist  mill  which  he  operated  for 
three  years  and  then  sold  to  a man  by  the 
name  of  John  Smith.  Mr.  Manning  then 
located  at  a point  on  the  great  Miami,  now 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Piqua,  and 
built  the  first  grist  mill  in  Miami  county. 
In  the  erection  of  this  mill  the  stone  was 
hewn  out  of  a bowlder  and  the  spindles 
made  from  old  hinges  taken  from  the  fort 
at  Greenville,  after  its  reduction ; the 
bolting  cloths  he  obtained  by  riding  to 
Lexington,  Ky.,  on  horseback. 

The  wonderful  enterprise  and  untiring 
energy  of  this  pioneer  was  shown  by  the 
hardships  and  great  disadvantages  he 
overcame  in  successfully  establishing  the 
mill  at  Piqua.  The  fact  that  his  efforts 
were  appreciated  is  shown  by  the  records. 
The  great  freshet  of  1805  threatened  the 
destruction  of  the  mill.  Water  surrounded 
it  on  all  sides  and  from  far  and  near  the 
settlers  came  to  devise  means  of  saving 
this  piece  of  property.  The  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Squire  Caldwell,  recommended  the 
passing  of  a cable  around  the  mill  and 
making  it  fast.  This  was  done  and  for 
years  the  mill  stood. 

Mr.  Manning,  with  the  assistance  of 
Armstrong  Brandon  platted  and  laid  out 
the  city  of  Piqua. 

Robert  M.  Freeman,  the  grandfather  of 
Isaac  Freeman,  well  known  throughout 
Miami  county,  had  the  honor  of  erecting 
the  second  mill  in  Miami  county.  Mr. 
Freeman  and  his  father,  Samuel,  entered 
a very  large  tract  of  land  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, a part  of  which  they  sold  and  with 
the  proceeds  built  a mill.  This  mill  had 
but  one  burr  and  of  course  all  kinds  of 
grain  were  ground  upon  it.  Several  years 


ALEXANDER  McCULLOUGH 

MacCULLOCH — WIGTONSHIRE.  Kirkcudbrightshire — Before  1000 

The  MacCullochs  are  one  of  the  oldest  septs  in  Galloway. 

Border  clans  and  chiefs  in  1597. 

Dumfries  and  Kirkcudbright.  MacCulloch. 

Alexander  McCullough,  whose  portrait  appears  above,  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on  September  30, 
1770,  while  his  parents  were  emigrating  to  America.  They  settled  in  Harford  County,  Maryland,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Susquehanna  and  moved  from  there  soon  afterward  to  Washington  County,  Pa.  When  Alex- 
ander was  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  followed  the  fortunes  of  his  family  to  Fayette  County,  Kentucky,  and 
was  married  to  Jane  Marshall  in  Fleming  County,  Kentucky,  on  December  27,  1798.  She  was  a member 
of  the  Marshall  family  of  Virginia,  having  been  born  in  Bot-e-tourt  County,  that  state,  on  June  8,  1779. 
At  the  time  the  McCulloughs  moved  to  Kentucky,  1778,  men  and  women  literally  took  their  lives  in  their 
hands  by  moving  into  the  “dark  and  bloody  ground.”  This  was  the  period  of  the  greatest  Indian  massacres 
that  had  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  United  States,  elsewhere  carefully  and  somewhat  extensively 
described.  Alexander  was  one  of  a company  of  eight  hundred  Kentuckians  under  General  Scott  to  chastise 
the  Indians  on  the  Wabash  for  a destructive  raid  they  had  made  on  Kentucky. 

Two  years  after  his  marriage,  he  came  to  the  present  site  of  Troy,  with  his  brother  John,  prospecting 
and  on  his  return,  he  entered  the  Troy  lands  at  the  land  office  in  Cincinnati.  To  this  union  were  born 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Sarah,  Margaret,  John,  Nancy,  Isabella,  Lucilla  and  Marshall.  They  moved  from  Ken- 
tucky to  this  locality  in  1806.  During  the  fifty  and  more  years  he  lived  in  Miami  County,  he  was  a 
farmer,  living  northwest  of  Troy  two  miles,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Peck  place. 

It  is  not  known  whether  he  was  a painter  or  not,  but  it  is  certain  that  he  contracted,  according  to  the 
county  records,  to  paint  the  interior  of  the  then  new  court  house  on  the  Public  Square  for  the  sum  of  $185. 

It  has  been  recorded  that  the  land  on  which  Troy  now  stands  was  owned  by  Alexander  McCullough. 
William  Barbee  and  John  McCullough,  a brother  of  Alexander  McCullough,  but  the  county  record  shows 
that  the  County  Commissioners  bought  it  of  Alexander  McCullough.  That  there  was  an  arrangement 
between  the  three  gentlemen  there  can  be  no  doubt,  since  one  lot  in  the  name  of  each  was  reserved  in  the 
sale.  McCullough  sold  the  land  to  the  Commissioners  for  three  dollars  per  acre.  The  fact  is  that  William 
Barbee  was  one  of  the  County  Commissioners  who  made  the  purchase,  a full  history  of  which  will  appear 
in  another  place,  is  sufficient  to  show  that  no  part  of  the  land  could  have  been  in  his  name.  William 
Barbee  was  his  brother  in  law  and  had  moved  to  Concord  Township  in  1804  and  Alexander  followed  in 
1806.  They  were  the  nucleus  of  a strong  company  of  Kentuckians  who  formed  a valuable  foundation  for 
the  future  strength  of  Miami  County.  The  land  that  McCullough  entered  on  his  return  to  Kentucky,  at 
the  land  office  in  Cincinnati  in  1800  was  an  Oakland  bottom  not  estimated  by  the  early  settlers  as  covering 
the  best  lands. 

Mr.  McCullough  was  a person  of  mild  manners  and  of  a liberal  mind.  He  preferred  the  farm  life  and 
was  a successful  agriculturalist.  He  is  recollected  as  a true  type  of  the  Kentucky  gentleman.  He  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  died  in  Troy,  October  14,  1857. 


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LEWIS  WALLACE 

Military  officer  and  author  ; born  in  Brookville.  Ind.,  April  10,  1827  ; son  of  Governor  David  Wallace ; 
studied  law  and  begun  practice  at  Crawfordsville,  Ind.  He  served  as  Lieutenant  of  Volunteers  in  the  war 
with  Mexico,  and  afterwards  assumed  his  profession.  He  served  one  term  in  the  State  Senate ; and 
when  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he  was  appointed  Adjutant  General  of  Indiana.  Soon  after  he  was  made 
Colonel  of  the  11th  (Zouaves)  Indiana  Volunteers,  with  which  he  performed  signal  service  in  western 
Virginia.  As  Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers  he  led  a division  at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Fort 
Donnelson  and  for  his  services  on  that  occasion  was  promoted  to  Major  General.  He  was  conspicuous  at 
Shiloh  and  as  commander  at  Baltimore.  Many  of  our  Miami  County  boys  in  the  110  O.  V.  I.  fought  under  his 
gallant  leadership  at  Monocasy  in  Maryland  in  the  summer  of  1864.  In  1878,  he  was  Governor  of  New 
Mexico  and  in  1881-85  was  minister  to  Turkey.  He  is  the  author  of  The  Fair  God,  Ben  Hur,  The  Boyhood 
of  Christ,  the  Prince  of  India,  Wooing  of  Malkatoon. 

His  grandfather,  Andrew  Wallace,  taught  the  first  school  in  Troy,  as  elsewhere  set  forth,  and  his 
father,  afterward  Governor  of  Indiana,  received  his  first  instruction  in  Troy.  His  grandfather  made 
the  first  survey  of  Troy  and  was  the  first  Treasurer  of  Miami  County. 


HENRY  DORSY  DAVY 


The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  May  4,  1811,  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  and  lived  there 
on  his  father’s  farm  until  the  summer  of  1832.  On  May  31,  of  that  year,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Leather-man  and  they  moved  soon  thereafter  to  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  200 
acres  in  the  wilderness  and  with  the  energy  which  characterized  his  whole  life,  he  soon  had  a good  home 
and  a farm.  He  and  his  wife  united  with  the  German  Baptist  or  Dunker  Church  in  1838  and  in  1845  he 
was  called  to  the  ministry  of  that  church.  His  wife  died  soon  afterward  and  on  November  17,  1850  he 
united  in  marriage  with  Catharine  Bostetter.  Ten  children  were  born  of  the  first  marriage  and  four 
by  the  last. 

Beginning  with  the  year  1862,  he  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  annual  meeting  or  conference  of  the 
church  and  chairman  of  the  permanent  or  Standing  Committee  for  the  United  States,  and  was  elected  to 
the  position  for  12  consecutive  years,  and  continued  to  fill  this  position  in  one  branch  of  the  church,  with 
few  exceptions,  each  year  until  his  death,  in  September,  1895. 

In  1868,  he  located  on  a farm  in  Elizabeth  Township,  and  for  nearly  30  years  was  known  as  a leader 
in  Miami  County  thought  and  enterprise.  He  was  an  eloquent  preacher,  great  natural  ability  and  untiring 
industry.  His  wife  died  in  1896. 

Jacob  A.  Davy,  a son  of  Henry  Dorsy  Davy,  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  October  26,  1854. 
He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Miami  County,  in  1868,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  in  the  winter 
season.  He  continued  on  the  f >rm  until  1879,  when  he  went  to  Troy  and  began  his  pre  parations  for  the 
legal  profession  under  the  preceptorship  of  the  late  Judge  Theodore  Sullivan.  He  graduated  from  the 
Cincinnati  law  school  in  1881  and  opened  an  office  for  practice  in  1882,  where  he  has  since  practiced  with 
uninterrupted  success.  He  pursued  a scientific  and  literary  course,  while  in  his  practice  and  became 
proficient  under  a tutor.  His  taste  for  books  is  a marked  characteristic,  which  he  has  gratified  by  an 
excellent  selection.  He  possesses  one  of  the  best  scrap  book  collections  in  the  county,  and  has  had  it 
bound  in  bible  form. 

Mr.  Davy  was  joined  in  marriage,  February  4,  1886,  with  Gertrude  Edith  Mitchell,  who  was  born  near 
Fletcher,  Miami  County  on  October  27,  1864.  Her  father  John  Mitchell,  was  born  in  Greene  County 
Pennsylvania,  December  25,  1822  and  came  to  Miami  County  at  an  early  age.  He  married  Henrietta 
Simmons  of  Fletcher  in  1855.  Mrs.  Davy  has  received  voice  culture  and  has  one  of  Troy’s  most  beautiful 
soprano  voices. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davy  are  active  members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Troy,  having  been  officially 
connected  therewith  for  many  years.  Mr.  Davy  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  for  several 
years,  which,  under  his  management  made  vigorous  growth. 

Since  these  delightful  people,  join  their  home  to  mine,  on  the  north.  I can  testify  to  the  social  and 
hospitable  character  which  they  enjoy  in  the  community.  Mrs.  Sterrett  and  I would  not  like  to  change 
them  for  others. 


GEORGE  MESSENGER  SHEETS 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Elisabeth  township,  Miami  county,  on  August  19,  1840,  on  the 
home  farm  of  Isaac  Sheets,  two  miles  and  a half  east  of  Troy,  where  he  died  in  October  of  1893.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  for  years  kept  the  Isaac  Sheets  flouring  and  saw  mill  in  operation  and 
condusted  the  farm  he  had  inherited  from  his  father.  He  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  hard  wood 
lumber.  He  was  a genial  man  and  had  many  friends.  He  loved  his  gun  and  dog  and  was  present  far  and 
near  on  all  occasions  when  tests  of  markmanship  were  practiced  and  yet  his  business  had  careful  attention. 
He  was  married  to  Nannie  May  Whitaker,  of  Troy,  Ohio,  on  May  13,  1886,  who  survives  him.  Her  father 
was  a shouting  Methodist  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  was  the  first  body  buried  in  Riverside 
cemetery. 

The  father  of  George  Messenger  Sheets,  Isaac  S.  Sheets,  was  born  January  10,  1799,  and  died  in  September, 
1876,  at  Philadelphia,  while  in  attendance  on  the  Centennial  International  Exposition.  In  June,  1824,  he 
iparried  Nancy  Knoop,  a member  of  the  Knoop  family  who  settled  at  “Dutch  Station.”  one  of  the  first 
families  that  settled  in  Miami  county  in  1798,  she  being  the  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  Knoop. 

Mr.  Sheets  was  not  only  a prominent  farmer  but  owned  the  flouring  and  saw  mill  opposite  his  residence, 
afterward  occupied  by  his  son,  George  Messenger,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  To  this  property  was  attached 
a distillery,  all  of  which  was  at  one  time  conducted  by  my  father  on  the  highest  salary  paid  up  to  that  time 
to  any  man  in  Miami  county  about  which  we  have  referred  in  another  part  of  this  work.  His  grandson, 
Lsaac  Sheets,  lives  near  the  old  home  place,  a successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  George  Messenger  was 
interred  in  the  mausoleum  in  Riverside  cemetery  in  Troy. 


JOHN  JACOB  SHROYER 

John  Jacob  Shroyer,  son  of  Thomas  Shroyer,  was  born  in  Frederick.  Maryland  on  November  10,  1807, 
and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  the  fall  of  1819,  and  after  passing:  the  winter  in  Dayton,  came  to 
Bethel  township.  Miami  county,  in  the  following:  spring,  where  his  father,  Thomas,  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  in  section  10  and  on  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  died,  on  February  19,  1889.  He  was  township 
treasurer  for  30  years  and  a trustee  for  10  years  and  at  one  time  a candidate  for  treasurer  of  Miami  county. 
No  man  has  ever  held  a higher  position  in  the  estimation  of  the  citizens  of  Bethel  township. 

JOHN  WILLIAM  SHROYER 

The  son  of  John  Jacob,  born  in  Bethel  township,  received  a very  fair  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
lived  on  the  farm,  until  his  marriage  with  Anna  Williams,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  Williams  in 
1864,  from  which  union  was  born  Herschel,  who  married  Clara  Mumford  ; Ida,  who  married  William  Wray  ; 
Anna,  who  married  Benjamin  Kissinger  : Edith,  who  married  Garfield  Moses  : Glendora,  who  married  Leroy 
Gross  ; John  Jacob,  who  married  Ada  Ledgeworth,  daughter  of  James  Ledgeworth  ; Marvin,  who  married 
Helen  Koontz  ; Bessie,  Emerson,  and  Marguerite  reside  at  home,  with  their  parents,  four  miles  east  of 
Tippecanoe  City,  on  the  New  Carlisle  turnpike,  which  is  the  center  of  a family  circle  of  unusual  interest 
and  intelligence,  typical  of  the  best  things  in  American  life.  They  all  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

the  Bethel  township  high  school  and  at  the  Starling  Medical  college  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  the  class  of 
1910;  served  one  year  as  interne  at  the  Miami  Valley  hospital  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  one  year  at  Protestant 

DR.  FRANKLIN  IRWIN  SHROYER 

A son  of  John  William  Shroyer,  was  born  in  Bethel  township,  on  the  home  farm,  on  April  20,  1886,  being 
the  fourth  generation  of  his  name,  who  had  done  so  much  for  the  material  advancement  of  agricultural, 
educational,  social  and  religious  upbuilding  of  the  first  township  of  Miami  county.  He  graduated  from 
hospital,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  practiced  for  five  years  with  Dr.  Ceo.  E.  McCullough  in  Troy,  Ohio  ; special- 
ized in  gynecological  and  abdominal  surgery  at  John  Hopkins  university  and  now  located  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
in  the  Reibold  building. 

On  September  25,  1917,  he  married  Mary  Anna  Barbara  Josse,  one  of  Troy’s  accomplished  young  ladies. 
The  Shroyers  were  and  are  all  land  owners.  John  Jacob  owned  700  acres  ; John  William,  212  acres  ; and 
Franklin  Irwin,  with  his  brother,  220  acres. 


SAMUEL  IIUMES  SHANNON 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  the  above  picture  was  born  at  Pit ;s ton,  Lycoming  county,  Pennsyivania, 
on  April  5,  1843,  and  lived  with  his  father  and  mother,  Wesley  and  Sarah  Smith  Shannon,  until  manhood. 
He  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  at  Pittston.  He  enlisted  in  Company  M,  the  2nd  Pa.  Heavy  Artillery, 
on  the  19th  of  August,  1862,  to  serve  for  three  years  and  was  mustered  out  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1865,  by  reason  of  an  order  furnished  by  the  War  department.  This  regiment  was  stationed 
at  Fort  Ethan  Allen,  Virginia,  until  May  of  1864,  when  they  joined  Grant  in  the  wilderness  and  continued 
with  the  great  commander  until  he  had  conquered  “on  that  line,”  The  147th  O.  V.  I.,  exclusively  from 
Miami  county,  relieved  this  regiment  and  took  posstssion  of  their  comfortable  quarters  of  two  years,  many 
of  which  were  artistically  formed  from  small  pines  and  cedar  trees.  It  was  my  fortune  to  quarter  in  the 
one  vacated  by  Comrade  Shannon.  It  was  here  Mr.  Shannon  trained  his  famous  dog,  “Trust,”  the  only  one 
in  the  history  of  the  United  States,  so  far  as  I know,  ever  mustered  into  and  out  of  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  A picture  of  Trust  appears  on  the  opposite  page. 

In  1871,  I met  Mr.  Shannon  at  Hillsboro,  Highland  county,  Ohio,  engaged  in  the  sale  of  Babcock  fire 
extinguishers,  when  I induced  him  to  come  to  Troy  and  engage  in  the  sale  of  nursery  stock,  which  business 
he  followed  principally  until  his  death.  Mr.  Shannon  was  noted  for  his  love  of  and  wonderful  power  over 
the  dog.  He  always  owned  one  and  he  was  invariably  well  trained.  In  1872,  when  traveling  with  him  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  State,  a beautiful  setter  followed  us  from  some  where  and  was  first  discovered 
trotting  under  the  buggy.  With  the  buggy  whip  we  drove  him  some  distance  back  on  the  road,  but  when 
we  arrived  at  our  hotel,  the  dog  was  under  the  buggy  and  Shannon  adopted  him  and  he  was  known  in  Troy 
for  some  years  as  the  best  traineddogin  the  community.  Mr.  Shannon  was  married  to  Katherine  Klein  on 
September  18,  1873,  from  which  union,  two  children  were  born.  Cora,  who  died  in  infancy  and  Jessie, 
several  years  a popular  school  teacher  of  Troy,  the  wife  of  L.  H.  Shipman,  a prominent  attorney  at  law  of 

Mr.  Shannon  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  was  a member  of  Post  159,  Dept,  of  Ohio, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Troy.  He  served  as  the  first  adjutant  of  the  local  post  in  1883-4  and  aided 
in  mustering  the  post  at  Tippecanoe  City  and  Pleasant  Hill.  He  was  an  efficient  and  intelligent  worker 
for  the  order.  He  had  a generous  hospitable  nature  which  endeared  him  to  a large  circle  of  friends. 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


315 


elapsed  before  they  did  any  bolting  and 
when  they  commenced  using  a bolt  the 
party  whose  grain  was  being  ground  was 
obliged  to  turn  the  bolt.  This  grist  mill 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  as  was  also  the  saw 
mill  upon  the  same  race,  but  Mr.  Freeman 
built  a four-story  mill  with  three  runs  of 
buhrs,  and  for  years  carried  on  a flourish- 
ing trade. 

James  T.  McKinney  in  1808  erected  a 
mill  on  the  banks  of  Springcreek,  which 
was  known  as  the  corn-cracker,  as  it 
ground  only  corn.  This  mill  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  erected  within 
what  is  known  as  Brown  township. 

The  first  mill  in  Bethel  township, 
erected  by  a man  named  Teller,  was 
known  as  the  ox-mill  because  the  power 
was  furnished  by  a large  wheel  about 
thirty  feet  in  circumference  which  was 
trod  by  oxen.  In  1815  a mill  was  built  on 
Honey  creek  by  David  Staley.  This  mill 
enjoyed  an  extensive  trade,  people  coming 
from  every  part  of  the  county  to  have 
their  grain  ground  at  this  mill.  About 
1831  this  mill  was  sold  to  Daniel  Babb, 
who  operated  it  for  many  years.  He  es- 
tablished a store  nearby  for  the  accom- 
modation of  those  who  came  to  have  their 
grain  ground  at  his  mill,  and  soon  a flour- 
ishing little  hamlet  grew  up  around  the 
mill  known  as  Babbtown. 

Piqua,  Miami  Countv,  Ohio, 
Feb.  7,  1831. 

My  dear  Brothers: — 

Through  the  tender  mercies  of  an  over- 
ruling Providence,  we  have  been  preserved 
from  diseases  and  death,  and  at  this  time 
enjoy  a reasonable  degree  of  health.  I 
am  pleased  with  this  part  of  the  country. 
The  land  is  rich  and  productive  and  all, 
every  foot  could  be  cultivated  except  the 
water  courses.  The  prices  of  produce  are 
tolerably  good;  wheat  50  cents,  corn  and 
rye  25  cents,  pork  $2.50,  beef  from  2 to  3 
dollars  per  hundred  and  will  command  a 
regular  cash  price  which  is  produced  by 
the  Miami  canal  which  is  completed  as  far 


as  Dayton  30  miles  from  here.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  the  canal  will  shortly  be 
extended  as  far  as  this  place,  and  at  some 
future  day  perhaps  not  far  distant  it  will 
be  made  through  to  Lake  Erie.  Land  has 
been  raising  here  of  late.  Improved  farms 
with  common  improvements  are  rated 
from  8 to  12  dollars  per  acre  and  some 
higher.  There  is  yet  unimproved  land  to 
be  had  low  down  at  Congress  price  but  lies 
a little  back.  I have  not  yet  settled  myself 
permanently.  The  winter  season  has  been 
very  unfavorable  for  looking  at  land  and 
I have  not  yet  seen  enough  of  the  country. 
It  is  not  very  expensive  living  in  this  part 
— I did  some  hauling  when  I first  came 
here  at  $2.00  per  day  and  got  as  much 
furniture  as  I wanted  and  I have  since 
superintended  a merchant  mill  for  three 
month  for  which  I received  $20  per  month. 
I wish  now  to  use  some  time  to  look 
around  and  determine  where  to  settle. 
The  deed  which  uas  made  to  me  for  the 
Ohio  land  did  not  answer  the  purpose.  I 
wrote  another  and  sent  it  on  to  Sam  Frye, 
he  has  forwarded  it  to  Brother  John  for 
his  signature  and  at  its  return  I wished 
you  all  to  execute  it  and  have  it  forwarded 
to  me  as  soon  as  possible  and  have  it  for- 
warded to  me  through  the  medium  of  Sam 
Frye.  My  necessity  compels  me  to  be  ur- 
gent in  this  as  I cannot  settle  myself  com- 
fortably without  it,  and  scarcely  with  it. 
I brought  four  horses  with  me  here,  two 
of  them  I have  since  sold.  This  is  a good 
country  for  a poor  man  and  any  person 
can  here  make  a comfortable  living  who  is 
blessed  with  health.  Industry  here  has  its 
reward.  Society  here  is  good  the  major- 
ity of  which  are  Methodists.  I was  pres- 
ent at  a love  feast  last  Sundav  morning 
when  there  was  at  least  400  persons 
present  at  their  morning  meeting,  nearly 
all  of  whom  were  members  of  the  church. 
Religion  is  prospering.  The  business  of  the 
estate  which  I left  with  you  you  will 
nlease  to  have  so  arranged  if  possible  that 
the  estate  can  be  finally  closed  by  next  fall 
as  I calculate  if  I am  spared  to  be  in  by 


316 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


that  time.  I have  many  serious  incon- 
veniences to  undergo  in  consequence  of 
going  to  a new  country  although  I find 
many  friends  here,  and  many  are  anxious 
I should  take  up  my  residence  among 
them.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  I pro- 
cured a house  for  my  family  when  I first 
came  here  as  people  are  so  fast  emigrating 
here  that  every  house  and  cabin  is  occu- 
pied. I,  however,  at  length,  succeeded  in 
procuring  one  tolerably  comfortable.  We 
have  had  an  addition  to  our  family,  a 
daughter  born  on  the  19th  of  November 
last  and  is  doing  well.  We  call  her  name 
Maryann.  Every  article  of  merchandise 
or  store  goods  I think  is  as  low  here  as  in 
Virginia  owing  to  the  canal  transporta- 
tion. Our  merchants  purchase  their  goods 
generally  at  Cincinnati,  the  great  empo- 
rium of  the  western  trade,  to  which  place 
they  are  brought  by  steam  boats  from 
New  Orleans,  and  may  be  brought  by  the 
canal  as  far  as  Dayton  30  miles  from  here. 
You  will  please  write  to  me  when  con- 
venient, directed  to  Piqua,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  until  otherwise  directed.  Please  to 
accept  of  the  tenders  of  love  and  respect 
to  you  all  and  remember  me  to  all  who  love 
or  regard  us.  We  have  had  a hard  and 
severe  winter  here,  colder  weather  than  I 
have  experienced  in  Virginia  and  fine 
sleighing  for  some  time  which  I learn  has 
been  the  case  even  in  Virginia.  I must 
close  by  wishing  you  every  blessing  that 
may  redound  to  your  good  and  subscribe 
myself  your  affectionate  brother, 

DANL.  BABB. 

Peter  and  Sami.  Babb. 

(Address) 

Messrs,  Peter  and  Sami.  Babb, 

Hazard  Forge  P.  Office, 

Hardy  County,  Virginia. 

RECORD  KEPT  BY  GRANDFATHER  PETER  BABB 

My  son  Samuel  was  born  into  this  worlcl 
Wednesday,  the  3rd  day  of  August,  1804, 
at  noon  between  12  and  1 o’clock,  and  in 
the  sign  of  Leo. 

My  daughter,  Litia,  was  born  in  this 


world  Friday,  the  27th  day  of  March,  in 
the  year  1807  in  the  afternoon  between  4 
and  5 o’clock  and  in  the  sign  of  Scorpia. 

My  son,  Levy,  was  born  into  this  world 
Sunday,  the  30th  day  of  September,  1810, 
at  11  o’clock  in  the  forenoon  and  in  the 
sign  of  Piaces. 

My  daughter,  Catharine,  was  born  into 
this  world  Wednesday,  the  21st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1815,  at  10  o’clock  in  the  evening, 
and  in  the  sign  of  Sagitarias. 

My  son,  John,  was  born  into  this  world 
Sunday,  the  3rd  day  of  August,  A.  D. 
1794,  between  6 and  7 o’clock  in  the  morn- 
ing and  in  the  sign  of  Scorpia. 

My  son,  John  Peter,  was  born  into  this 
world  Sunday,  the  25th  of  September,  A. 
D.,  1796,  at  2 o’clock  in  the  morning  and 
in  the  sign  of  Cancer. 

My  son,  Daniel,  was  born  into  this 
world  Tuesday,  the  10th  of  December,  A. 
D.,  1800,  at  12  o’clock  at  noon  and  in  the 
sign  of  Gemini. 

My  son,  William,  was  born  into  this 
world  Monday,  the  30th  of  November,  A. 
D.,  1801,  at  12  o’clock  at  noon  and  in  the 
sign  of  Libra. 

The  meeting  of  neighbors  at  the  mills 
was  an  excellent  method  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted and  it  was  in  this  way,  largely, 
that  they  became  acquainted  with  the 
characteristics  of  each  other.  I have 
heard  Father  tell  the  story  of  a bet  he  had 
with  Isaac  Sheets,  sometime  about  1840, 
when  he  superintended  the  Sheets  distil- 
lery, flour  and  saw  mill,  two  and  one-half 
miles  east  of  Troy.  Sheets  said  to  Father 
one  day,  when  a certain  farmer  came  to 
the  mill  from  Lost  Creek  township,  “Sam, 
there  comes  J — S who  is  the  biggest  liar 
in  Miami  county.”  Father,  having  been 
the  superintendent  of  the  Voorhees  dis- 
tillery, flour  and  saw  mill  on  Indian  creek, 
in  Elisabeth  township,  knew  every  one  in 
that  locality  and  among  others  a well-to-do 
farmer,  owning  320  acres  of  fine  land  who 
was  given  to  wonderful  exaggerations. 
To  impress  county  officials,  he  would  make 
tax  returns  for  more  stock  than  he  actu- 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


317 


ally  had.  He  was  especially  fond  of  great 
draft  horses,  and  told  stories  of  their 
power  to  pull  great  loads  that  would  put 
to  shame  the  lofty  flights  of  Baron  Mun- 
chausen. This  man,  V — r,  came  to  the  mill 
soon  after  J — s had  arrived,  when  Father 
said,  “Isaac,  I have  a man  here  now  that 
can  out-lie  your  man,”  and  they  accord- 
ingly bet  an  oyster  supper  in  Troy  on  the 
result.  Knowing  the  fondness  of  each  for 
draft  horses,  they  directed  the  conversa- 
tion in  that  channel  and  soon  had  J — s 
telling  of  miraculous  feats  of  moving  loads 
with  his  horses.  When  V — r’s  turn  came 
he  told  the  following:  “I  used  to  haul 

wheat  across  the  mountains  to  Baltimore 
with  four  horses  and  my  average  load  was 
a hundred  bushels.  There  was  one  place 
in  the  mountain  where  it  was  difficult  to 
pull  over  and  I always  rested  my  horses 
before  I reached  that  point.  On  one  occa- 
sion, I put  on  five  bushels  extra  for  it 
completed  the  job,  and  when  I arrived  at 
the  difficult  point,  my  four  horses  stood 
on  their  toes  for  20  minutes  unable  to 
move  forward,  but  so  true  they  would  not 
let  the  load  go  backward.  So  great  was  the 
strain,  that  the  right  hand  shoe  of  the  off 
horse  flew  off  with  such  force  that  it  went 
through  the  body  of  the  wagon,  emptied 
two  sacks  of  wheat  and  this  ennabled  the 
horses  to  pull  the  load  over.”  Sheets 
winked  at  father  who  went  with  him  out- 
side the  office,  when  he  said,  “Sam,  the 
oysters  are  yours.”  I never  heard  Father 
repeat  this  story  without  the  explanation 
that  neither  of  these  men  ever  exagger- 
ated to  the  injury  of  their  neighbors. 

“That  old  voice  of  waters,  of  birds,  and  of 
breeze, 

The  dip  of  the  wild  fowl,  the  rustling  of 
trees.” 

BETHEL  TOWNSHIP 

I addressed  a letter  to  The  Richmond- 
Arnold  Publishing  Company,  of  Chicago, 
111.,  who  purported  to  be  a firm  of  that 


city,  which  published  the  history  of  Miami 
County  in  1909.  The  letter  was  returned 
by  the  post  office  authorities  marked,  “Not 
found.”  My  inquiry  of  them  was  in  rela- 
tion to  their  authority  for  some  of  the 
names  used  by  them  as  early  settlers  in 
Miami  county. 

The  list  of  names  given  in  this  misfit 
history  as  the  earliest  settlers  in  Bethel 
township  appear  in  the  following  order: 
On  page  111,  Thomas  Stockstill,  David  H. 
Morris,  Sr.,  Robert  Crawford,  John  Craw- 
ford, Samuel  Morrison,  Mordecai  Menden- 
hall, John  Ross,  Daniel  Agenbroad,  the 
Saylors,  Puterbaughs,  Claytons,  Ellises, 
Studebakers  and  Newcombs. 

The  land  office  of  the  United  States, 
gives  the  first  entries  of  land  in  Bethel 
township  in  the  following  order: 

BETHEL  TOWNSHIP,  TOWN  NO.  2 RANGE  9 

Robt.  Crawford,  entered  N.W.  Qr  Sec. 
4-2-9,  160  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

James  L.  Crawford,  entered  S.W.  Qr 
Sec.  4-2-9,  100.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

Peyton  Short  assigned  to  Crawford  en- 
tered Whole  Sec.  10-2-9,  640.00  @ Dec.  31, 
1802. 

Jacob  Siler,  entered  N.  Pt.  Qr  Sec.  18-2- 
9,  100.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

P.  Short,  entered  N.  Pt.  Qr,  Sec.  23-2-9, 

320.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

Jonathan  Downell,  entered  N i/2>  Sec. 
35-2-9,  64.71  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

Elnathan  Corey,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
3-2-9,  159.00  @ Nov.  17,  1804. 

E.  Corey,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  4-2-9, 

160.00  @ Nov.  17,  1804. 

Jos.  Stafford,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
17-2-9,  160.00  @ Dec.  24,  1804. 

Jacob  Price,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  17- 
2-9,  160.00  @ Dec.  8,  1804. 

Thomas  Stockstill  never  entered  land 
in  Bethel  township.  He  owned  land  by 
purchase  by  transfer  but  he  was  not  one 
of  the  first  owners.  Samuel  Morrison  did 
not  enter  his  land  until  Dec.  27,  1805,  be- 
ing the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  3, 
seven  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Honey 


318 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


creek,  where  he  and  Morris  founded  the 
town  of  Livingston,  on  land  purchased 
from  John  Cleves  Symmes.  The  latter 
lost  title  to  this  land  for  non-payment  of 
purchase  price.  If  the  high  waters  at  the 
mouth  of  Honey  creek  broke  up  his  town, 
as  we  have  heretofore  intimated,  it  would 
account  for  his  entry  of  the  high  land  in 
Section  3,  near  the  Clark  county  line, 
Mordecai  Mendenhall  received  a patent 
for  his  land  for  the  one-half  of  Section  33, 
on  November  20,  1806,  on  the  river  two 
miles  below  the  mouth  of  Honey  creek. 
Daniel  Ross  did  not  receive  his  patent  for 
parts  of  Section  27-28  until  April  9,  1811. 

The  names  given  in  the  same  history  as 
the  earliest  settlers  in  Brown  township 
were  John  Kiser,  John  Simmons,  William 
Cancannon  and  Michael  Sills  set  forth  on 
page  98. 

The  following  record  of  the  land  de- 
partment at  Washington,  D.  C.,  shows  the 
first  land  patents  for  Brown  township 
settlers : 

BROWN  TOWNSHIP,  TOWN  NO.  2, 
RANGE  NO.  12 

John  Adney,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  31- 
2-12,  159.02  @ Apr.  11,  1808. 

John  Oliver,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  19- 
2-12,  157.83  @ Apr.  18,  1814. 

John  Ciser,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  25-2- 
12,  159.00  @ Mar.  39,  1814. 

Dan’l  Newcomb,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  25-2- 
12,  159.00  @ Mar.  39,  1814. 

John  Simmons,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
25-2-12,  159.00  @ May  28,  1813. 

John  A.  Caven,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 

31- 2-12,  159.02  @ Nov.  26,  1812. 

John  Lesseney,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 

32- 2-12,  159.77  @ May  6,  1813. 

Wm.  Wahub,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  32- 
2-12,  159.77  @ Mar.  30,  1814. 

John  Kizer,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  13-2- 
12,  158.47  @ Mar.  2,  1815. 

Wm.  Richardson,  entered  WV2  Qr,  Sec. 

33- 2-12,  78.95  @ June  7,  1815. 

There  were  at  least  eight  settlers  before 
Kizer  came. 


The  same  history  gives  the  names  of  the 
first  settlers  in  Concord  township  as  fol- 
lows: Aaron  Tullis,  William  Barbee, 

Reuben  Shackelford  and  Alexander  Tel- 
ford. These  came  in  about  1804.  In  1806 
came  John  Peck  from  Kentucky  with  four 
sons,  Jacob,  John,  Joseph  and  Isaac  and 
four  daughters.” 

The  land  office  record  at  Washington, 
D.  C.,  for  early  settlers  is  as  follows: 

CONCORD  TOWNSHIP,  TOWN  AND  RANGE  7-5 
AND  5-6 

Sam’l  Martin,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  12- 
7-5,  160  @ Sept.  30,  1805. 

Sam’l  Kyle,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  36-7- 
5,  160  @ Apr.  4,  1807. 

Wm.  Barbee  and  Robt.  Marshall,  en- 
tered Whole,  Sec.  8-5-6,  640.98  @ Dec.  22, 
1803. 

Aaron  Tullis,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  20- 
5-6,  165.34  @ Nov.  20,  1804. 

David  Tullis,  entered  S.  W.Qr,  Sec.  19- 
5-6.  161.24  @ Aug.  11,  1806. 

Wm.  Gahagan,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  27- 
5-6,  467.33  @ Sept.  6,  1804. 

Abraham  Thomas,  entered  S.  W.  Qr, 
Sec.  33-5-6,  161.18  @ Dec.  24,  1804. 

John  Orbison,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  34- 
5-6,  444.37  @ Aug.  13,  1805. 

Wm.  Barbee  and  Alex  McCullough,  en- 
tered N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  28,5-6,  161.44  @ Sept. 
4,  1805. 

Jos.  Layton,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  28- 
5-6,  161.44  (5)  Sept.  10,  1805. 

The  same  history  gives  the  names  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Elisabeth  township  as  fol- 
lows : Michael  Shidaker,  John  Mann, 

George  Williams,  John  Flynn,  John  Gear- 
hart and  the  Cecils. 

The  following  is  the  record  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. : 

ELISABETH  TOWNSHIP,  TOWN  NO.  2, 
RANGE  NO.  10 

Wm.  Madden,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
25-2-10,  100.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

James  Lennon,  entered  Sec,  28-2-10, 
50.00  @ Dec.  29,  1802. 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


319 


Michael  Williams,  entered  S.  E.  Qr, 
25-2-10,  218.50  @ Dec.  31,  1804. 

Jacob  Prillerman,  entered  N i/2  Qr, 
Sec.  7-2-10,  320.00  @ Dec.  25,  1804. 

Moses  Winters,  entered  W.  Qr,  Sec.  13- 
2-10,  160.00  @ Dec.  19,  1804. 

Danl.  Knoop,  entered  S V2  Qr,  Sec.  28-2- 
10,  320.00  @ Dec.  22,  1804“ 

Elihu  Saunders,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
32-2-10,  161.00  @ Dec.  15,  1804. 

Peter  Saunderland,  entered  N.  W., 

1- 2-10,  160.00  @ Dec.  20,  1805. 

John  Johnston,  entered  S.  W.,  Sec.  9-2- 
10,  159.50  @ Dec.  27,  1805. 

John  Shidaker,  entered  N 1/2,  Sec.  13-2- 

10,  320.00  @ Oct.  15,  1805. 

The  same  history  gives  the  first  settlers 
of  Lost  Creek  township  in  the  following 
order:  Wilis  Northcut,  John  Rogers, 

John  Webb,  Alexander  McDowell,  Sr. 

The  records  of  the  land  offce,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  show  the  following  order  for 
the  first  ten  entries : 

LOST  CREEK  TOWNSHIP,  TOWN  NO.  2, 
RANGE  NO.  11 

Jacob  Burnett,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
15-2-11,  159.66  @ Dec.  31,  1804. 

John  Brownson,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 

20- 2-11,  Sec.  159.48  @ Dec.  28,  1805. 
John  Johnston,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 

21- 2-11,  160.06  @ Dec.  28,  1805. 

Abm.  Edwards,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 

27- 2-11,  159.60  @ Dec.  28,  1805. 

Barnabas  Blue,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 

28- 2-11,  160.18  @ Dec.  26,  1805. 

John  Rogers,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  32-2- 

11,  648.32  @ Dec.  30,  1805. 

John  Holderman,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
34-2-11,  169.33  @ Dec.  26,  1805. 

John  Whipple,  entered  S V2  Qr,  Sec.  35- 

2- 11,  322.30  @ Dec.  27,  1805. 

John  Flinn,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  20- 
2-11,  159.48  @ Dec.  28,  1805. 

Dan’l  Lauden,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  20- 
2-11,  159.48  @ Dec.  28,  1805. 

Willis  Northcutt  did  not  enter  land  un- 
til December  2,  1817,  when  he  acquired 
the  S.  W.  Qr  of  Section  2.  Alexander 


McDowell  did  not  enter  land  but  acquired 
his  by  transfer  from  the  first  settlers. 

“Samuel  Freeman  Seems  to  have  been 
the  first  white  man  to  break  ground  in 
Monroe  township,”  then  follows  John 
Yount,  Michael  Fair,  John  Clark,  David 
Jenkins  and  Elisha  Jones. 

The  Washington  land  office  records 
show  as  follows: 

MONROE  TOWNSHIP,  TOWN  NO.  4 
RANGE  NO.  6 

Geo.  Gillispie,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  11  & 
14-4-6,  399.62  @ Sept.  24,  1804. 

Jos.  Layton,  entered  Whole  ,Sec.  24-4-6, 
400.82  @ Sept.  6,  1804. 

Sami.  Freeman,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  25- 
4-6,  450.41  @ Aug.  7,  1804. 

John  Freeman,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  34- 
4-6,  638.72  @ Aug.  9,  1805. 

Jacon  Fare,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  28-4- 
6,  160.16  @ Dec.  5,  1805. 

James  Reed,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  33-4- 
6,  150.68  @ Nov.  25,  1805. 

Christian  Grice,  entered  N 1/9,  Sec.  27- 
4-6,  319.07  @ Aug.  9,  1805. 

James  Youert,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  4- 
4-6,  163.68  @ Apr.  5,  1805. 

Benj.  Cheney,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  5- 
4-6,  164.00  @ Dec.  2,  1805. 

Hance  Mordockk,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
8-4-6,  162.85  @ Aug.  21,  1805. 

‘In  1806  Am.  McDonald  settled  on  Har- 
rison creek  near  Covington  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year,  Michael  Ingle  erected  a cabin 
at  the  mouth  of  Trotters  creek.  Ingle  was 
a tanner,  etc.”  following  Ingle  came  Wil- 
liam Coate,  John  Coate  and  soon  Daniel 
Wright,”  page  96.  The  Washington  rec- 
ords disclose  as  follows: 

Newberry  Toivnship,  Town  & Range 
(8-5)  (9-4)  (9-5)  (10-4) 

David  Zeigler,  entered  E 1/9,  Sec.  36-9-4, 
320  @ Apr.  23,  1801. 

Michael  Ingle,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
20-8-5,  156.74  @ Nov.  15,  1804. 

Thomas  Hill,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  29- 
8-5,  159.24  @ Dec.  7,  1805. 


320 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Jo,  *11  Miller,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  31- 
8-5,  160.26  @ Dec.  21,  1805. 

Sylvester  Thompson,  entered  N.  W.  Qr, 
Sec.  32-8-5,  158.21  @ Apr.  11,  1805. 

Sam’l  Nicholson,  entered  W */2  S.  E., 
Sec.  32-9-5,  80  @ Oct.  5,  1816. 

Phil  Swartzell,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
12-0-4,  160.00  @ Nov.  2,  1806. 

Wm.  Pearson,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 

18- 8-5,  159.24  @ June  20,  1809. 

David  Burnstrager,  entered  S.  E.  Qr, 
Sec.  19-8-5,  159.89  @ July  21,  1806. 

Sam’l  Brown,  Jr.,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 

19- 8-5,  156.89  @ July  8,  1807. 

Page  94  of  the  same  history  places  the 
early  settlers  of  Newton  township  in  the 
following  order:  Michael  Williams,  Mar- 
maduke  Coate,  Thomas  Hill,  Thomas  Cop- 
pock,  Samuel  Teague,  Benjamin  and  Wil- 
liam Furnas. 

The  Washington  records  shows  as  fol- 
lows: 

Michael  Williams,  entered  last  one-half 
Section  19,  August  7,  1801. 

Michael  Ingle,  entered  N.  W.  Ir,  Sec.  7- 
7-5,  155.72  @ Nov.  15,  1804. 

Sylvester  Thompson,  entered  N.  W.  Qr, 
Sec.  17-7-5,  160  @ Mar.  19,  1806. 

Wm.  C.  & O.  Schenck,  entered  S.  E.  Qr, 
Sec.  18-7-5,  160  @ Nov.  20,  1804. 

Marmaduke  Coate,  S.  E.  Qr,  Section  32, 
Nov.  5,  1804. 

Benjamin  Iddings,  S.  E.  Qr,  Section  33, 
Nov.  7,  1804. 

Thomas  Coppock,  entered  W.  W.  Qr, 
Sec.  4,  Sept.  25,  1804. 

Abrham  Miller,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
5-7-5,  161.09  @ Mar.  10,  1806. 

Fredrick  Nutts,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
7-7-5,  160  @ Aug.  17,  1805. 

Page  100,  same  history  gives  the  first 
settlers  in  Spring  Creek  township  as  fol- 
lows : John  Hilliard,  “At  last  in  1804,  the 
Dilborns  came,”  William  Frost,  John  R. 
McKinney,  John  Millhouse,  Gardner  Bobo, 
Mathias  Scudder,  Uriah  Blue,  James  L. 
McKinney,  and  Henry  Millhouse. 

The  Washington  records  shows  as  fol- 
lows : 


John  Hilliard,  the  whole  of  section  30, 
Dec.  31,  1802. 

John  McKinney,  the  whole  of  section  20, 
Dec.  26,  1806. 

Gardener  Bobo,  Section  21,  Jan.  3,  1807. 
James  McKinney,  Section  14,  Dec.  27, 
1805. 

Springcreek,  Town  No.  1,  Range  No.  12 

Wm.  Stuart,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  21- 
1-12,  58.76  @ Dec.  5,  1805. 

Dan’l  Symmes,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  25- 
1-12,  612.94  @ Jan.  1,  1806. 

Matthew  Scudder,  entered  Whole,  Sec. 
27-1-12,  546.43  @ Aug.  29,  1806. 

Dan'l  Hilliar,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  15- 
1-12,  158.76  @ Apr.  18,  1807. 

Wm.  Frost,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  20-1- 
12,  161.27  @ Dec.  27,  1807. 

James  Cregan,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
21-1-12,  158.76  @ Aug.  5,  1806. 

Geo.  M.  Caven,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 
1-1-12,  159.01  @ Nov.  29,  1808. 

Henry  Freeman,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  15-1- 
12, 158.76  @ Jan.  3, 1810. 

Wm.  Wiley,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  19-1- 
12,  160.27  @ Aug.  21,  1812. 

G.  P.  Torrance,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  32- 
1-12,  618.20  @ Dec.  11,  1811. 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  is  no  au- 
thority for  saying  the  Dilborns  were  the 
second  family  to  settle  in  Spring  township. 
They  actually  entered  their  land,  the  N.  E. 
Qr,  of  Section  1 on  April  14,  1813,  but  a 
short  time  before  they  were  murdered  by 
the  Indians. 

Staunton  Township,  Town  No.  1-10  and 
1-11 

Page  105,  same  history  mentions  the 
early  settlers  in  the  following  order : 
John  Knoop,  Peter  Felix,  Simon  Landry, 
Amariah  Smalley,  Levi  Martin,  Henry 
Marshall  and  John  Defrees. 

The  Washington  record  shows  as  fol- 
lows : 

John  Gerrard,  entered  Whole  Sec.  9-1- 
10,  433.01  @ Dec.  28,  1802. 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


321 


Uriah  Blue,  entered  E 1/2,  Sec.  18-1-10, 

120.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

Henry  Gerrard,  entered  N V2>  Sec.  13-1 
11,  320.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

A.  Blue,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  13-1-11, 

40.00  @ Dec.  31,  1802. 

James  Blue,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  7-1- 

John  Whiting,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  2- 
11,  160.00  @ Dec.  25,  1804. 

1-10,  50.00  @ Dec.  31,  1805. 

Levi  Martin,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  3-1, 
10,  160.00  @ Dec.  17,  1805. 

Matthew  Huston,  entered  Whole,  Sec. 
10-1-10,  463.54  @ Dec.  9,  1805. 

Peter  Felix,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  23-1-10, 
24.50  @ Dec.  27,  1805. 

Jacon  Kinzer,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  3- 
1-11,  158.68  @ Aug.  9,  1805. 

John  Knoop,  entered  Part  4-1-10,  521.47 
@ July  31,  1805. 

William  Marshall,  not  Henry,  entered 
the  N.  W.  Qr  of  Section  22  on  April  21, 
1806,  while  John  Defrees  never  entered 
any  land.  Much  of  the  land  in  Miami 
county  in  the  early  day  was  purchased 
from  John  Cleves  Symmes,  but  he,  having 
forfeited  his  title  to  all  of  the  2,000,000 
acres  purchased  by  him  from  the  govern- 
ment, lying  between  the  Great  and  Little 
Miami  rivers, except  600,000  acres  next  to 
the  Ohio  river.  These  same  lands  were 
afterward  purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment. I endeavored  to  procure  all  the 
papers  that  related  to  the  land  owned  by 
John  Knoop  in  Section  4 of  Staunton 
township.  The  following  letter  from  my 
friend,  C.  C.  Royce,  of  Washington  City, 
will  explain  in  this  relation  more  fully 
than  ever  before  and  is  the  last  word  on 
this  subject. 

The  Cairo, 
Washington,  D.  C., 
July  11,  1917. 

My  dear  Sterrett: 

I have  your  letter  of  the  4th  inst.  I as- 
sume from  its  contents  that  you  have 
access  to  the  U.  S.  statutes  at  large  and 
are  fully  familiar  with  the  Act  of  1796, 


which  provided  for  the  sale  of  lands  N.  W. 
of  the  river  Ohio  on  terms  requiring  one- 
twentieth  of  purchase  money  at  time  of 
sale,  one-half  within  30  days  and  balance 
in  one  year.  Also  the  Act  of  March  2, 
1799,  for  the  relief  of  persons  who  had 
contracts  with  Jno.  Cleves  Symmes  for 
lands  not  included  in  the  Symmes  patents, 
giving  such  persons  a preference  in  pur- 
chasing the  lands  so  contracted  for — such 
lands  to  be  paid  for : one-third  before  Sept. 
1,  1799,  one-third  in  one  year,  and  one- 
third  in  two  years,  which  act  was  super- 
ceded  by  Act  of  March  3,  1801,  extending 
the  time  for  first  payment  to  Jan.  1,  1802. 
Also  the  Act  of  May  10,  1800  providing 
for  the  establishment  of  land  offices  at 
Cincinati,  Chillicothe,  Marietta  and 
Steubenville  and  the  sale  of  lands  in  640 
and  320  acre  tracts,  payments  in  cash  or 
on  credit,  one-twentieth  cash,  one-fourth 
in  40  days,  one-fourth  in  two  years,  one- 
fourth  in  three  years  and  remainder  in 
four  years. 

In  reference  to  the  John  Knoop  entry  I 
went  to  the  General  Land  Office  and  ob- 
tained access  to  the  old  records  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati land  office,  but  did  not  obtain  the 
full  measure  of  information  I desired.  I 
had  supposed  that  the  original  application 
for  entry  would  contain  a statement  of 
the  date  of  actual  settlement  but  found 
that  such  was  not  the  case.  I found,  how- 
ever, that  John  Knoop’s  first  pre-emption 
claim  was  filed  December  21,  1804,  on 
which  date  he  made  a first  payment  of 
$52.14.  His  patent  was  not  issued  until 
July  30,  1812,  and  was  for  land  in  Sec.  4, 
T.  1,  Range  10  M.  R.  S. 

A second  application  for  additional  land 
was  made  December  27,  1805,  but  I mis- 
laid my  memorandum  showing  the  date  of 
his  final  certificate  and  date  of  the  pat- 
ent. If  these  are  of  any  importance  to  you 
I will  make  another  trip  to  the  land  office 
and  get  them. 

The  number  of  his  final  certificate  on  the 
first  application  was  329  and  of  the  second 
1760,  which  I obtained  from  the  old  tract 


322 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


book,  but  the  certificates  themselves  and 
accompanying  papers  were  not  to  be 
found,  the  clerk  in  charge  advising  me  that 
more  than  half  of  the  papers  in  all  these 
entries  at  the  Cincinnati  office  prior  to 
1814  are  missing,  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
Treasury  department  was  burned  by  the 
British  in  that  year  and  many  of  the  files 
destroyed. 

Sorry  the  material  date  of  Knoop’s 
settlement  is  not  disclosed  by  the  records 
but  if  there  is  any  other  matter  concerning 
which  I can  be  of  service  to  you  let  me 
know  and  I will  be  “Johnny  on  the  Spot." 
Sincerely  yours, 

C.  C.  ROYCE. 

Page  83,  of  the  same  history  names  the 
early  settlers  of  Washington  township  in 
the  following  order : Job  Gard,  John  Wid- 
ney,  Benjamin  Brandon,  William  Mitchell, 
Col.  John  Johnston,  Hugh  Scott,  Benjamin 
Leavell,  John  Manning,  Armstrong  Bran- 
don and  Matthew  Caldwell. 

The  Washington  record  is  as  follows : 

Washington  Township  (6-6)  (7-6)  (8-5) 
(9-5) 

Matthew  Caldwel,  entered  Whole,  Sec. 
18-6-6,  636.40  @ Dec.  3,  1805. 

Edward  Newcomb,  entered  Whole,  Sec. 

6-6-6,  222.48  @ Sept.  6,  1804. 

John  Manning,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  17- 

6- 6,  164.45  @ Oct.  8,  1804. 

Jos.  Bedle,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  32-6-6, 
360.40  @ Mar.  15,  1805. 

William  Wills,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  31- 

7- 6,  157.98  @ Dec.  27,  1805. 

John  Lovell,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  13-8- 
5,  157.56  @ Nov.  29,  1806. 

Sami.  Trotter,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  24- 

8- 5,  160.29  @ Oct.  8,  1806. 

James  Vamman,  entered  Whole,  Sec. 
36-8-5,.  156.95  @ Nov.  12,  1806. 

John  Widney,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  36- 

9- 5,  160.00  @ May  30,  1810. 

Henry  Orbison,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
12-8-5,  158.41  @ May  13,  1807. 

The  story  of  Job  Card  having  been  the 
first  settler  of  Washington  township  and 


probably  of  Miami  county,  may  be  and 
probably  is,  true  so  far  as  that  he  lived  in 
the  old  fort  at  the  upper  Piqua  point  either 
in  the  winter  of  1795  or  n >.6  and  planted 
corn  on  the  “Big  Bend”  at  Piqua,  the  suc- 
ceeding spring  and  afterward  erected  a 
cabin  at  Harrison  street  but  the  story 
seems  purely  legendary.  At  least,  he 
never  entered  land,  that  is,  of  record.  Col. 
John  Johnston,  contrary  to  the  general 
belief  did  not  enter  the  land  at  the  mouth 
of  Loramie  creek  but  the  N.  E.  Qr,  of  Sec- 
tion 2,  June  6,  1808.  This  land  is  two 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  Loramie  creek. 
Loramie  creek  enters  the  Miami  river  at 
the  southwest  corner  of  fractional  section 
32.  The  N.  East  Qr,  of  this  section  was 
entered  by  Stephen  Johnson  in  1818.  Sec- 
tion 31  on  the  west  side  of  Loramie  creek, 
in  Miami  county,  was  entered  by  eight 
different  people  from  1816  to  1833. 

John  Leavell,  not  Benjamin,  entered  his 
land  in  Section  24,  in  1806,  while  Hugh 
Scott  did  not  enter  his  in  Section  7 until 
1814. 

Page  91  of  the  same  history  says  “In  the 
year  1801  Henry  Fouts,  Leonard  and 
Adam  Ellers,  settled  in  Union  township  in 
the  very  heart  of  the  forest  primeval”  and 
then  names  Caleb  Mendenhall,  John  Mast 
and  Frederick  Yount,  David  Mote,  Leon- 
ard and  William  Fincher,  William  Neal, 
Benjamin  Pike  and  Jacob  Byrkett. 

The  record  at  Washington  reads  as  fol- 
lows: 

John  Mast,  entered  Whole  Sec.  28-6-5, 
610.56  @ Sept.  3,  1802. 

Thomas  Coppock,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec. 

4- 6-5,  159.20  @ Sept.  25,  1804. 

John  Richardson,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 

5- 6-5,  161.24  @ Dec.  2,  1804. 

Sam’l  Coate,  entered  N.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  5-6- 
5,  161.24  @ Nov.  5,  1804. 

Moses  Coate,  entered  S.  W.  Qr,  Sec.  5-6- 
5,  161.24  @ Sept.  25,  1804. 

John  Compton,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  7- 

6- 5,  155.24  @ Oct.  12,  1804. 

Jonathan  Mote,  entered  Whole,  Sec.  20- 
6-5,  666.15  @ Aug.  6,  1804. 


JOHN  WILLIAM  DOWLER 

The  grand  father,  William  Dowler,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and  first 

located  in  Butler  County.  In  the  year  1824,  he  moved  to  Newberry  township  and  entered  the  northeast 

quarter  of  section  7,  two  miles  north  of  Covington.  His  son,  Joseph  Carter  Dowler,  was  reared  on  this 
farm  and  became  a school  teacher  at  nineteen  years  of  age  which  profession  he  followed  for  fifteen 

years.  I have  had  in  my  possession,  one  of  the  orders  given  him  for  his  services  in  this  capacity, 

calling  on  the  Treasurer  of  the  township  to  pay  him  the  sum  of  $35  for  teaching  school  for  three  months. 

He  married  Susan  Rike  on  August  14,  1856,  from  which  one  child  was  born,  John  William,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  on  July  3,  1857,  who  graduated  in  the  High  School  of  Covington  and  adopted  the  pro- 
fession of  Civil  Engineer  in  which  capacity,  in  connection  with  farming,  his  lfe  has  been  spent.  He 
married  Mary  Ermina  Freshhour  on  Feb.  15.  1888,  from  which  union  two  children  were  born : George 

Leonard  on  Sept.  17,  1892,  and  James  E.  on  Nov.  27.  1893. 

Mr.  Dowler  has  been  employed  in  government  land  surveys  ; has  been  engineer  for  the  several  traction 
lines  in  Miami  County  except  from  Troy  to  Piqua  and  continues  in  the  employ  of  the  Dayton.  Covington 
and  Piqua  line,  and  has  served  two  terms  as  Surveyor  of  Miami  County. 

Oue  of  his  pleasant  pastimes  has  been  the  production  from  his  own  camera  of  lantern  slides  and  pictur- 
‘scenery  of  Miami  County  and  in  the  National  Park  of  Montana,  where  he  has  a farm  of  360  acres  and 
Vaises  oats  and  wheat.  He  has  entered  one  hundred  of  these  pictures  in  a pure,  soft  leather  binding,  all 
$&nd  colored,  and  beneath  each  one  an  original  verse  of  poetry.  Some  of  these  pictures  are  used  in  this 
Sook. 

the  first  picture  of  this  really  wonderful  book  is  printed  the  following: 

“This  book  will  give  the  author’s  point  of  view. 

It  is  a collection  of  his  best  reflections  on 
Beauty  of  our  waterways  he  has  passed  through. 

And  brings  to  mind  again,  tender  recollections.” 

He  has  christened  his  book  “One  Hundred  Camera  Peeps  ; Rivers  of  Delight.” 

Mr.  Dowler  has  given  much  attention  to  archaeological  and  geological  study,  having  one  of  the  most 
valuable  collections  of  each  in  Miami  County. 

He  is  a practical  business  man  and  believes  in  the  government  fixing  prices,  provided  they  fix  them 
so  it  does  not  pay  better  to  raise  oats  in  Montana  than  wheat  and  that  they  fix  the  price  on  a just 
and  not  on  an  absolutely  unfair  and  inequitable  one. 


PATRICK  O CONNOR 

The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  September  20th,  1830.  He  lived 
with  his  father  and  mother,  Michael  and  Mary  O’Connor  and  was  educated*  in  a limited  way,  in 
Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1860.  Soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  became  the  policeman  of 

the  C.  H.  and  D.  Railroad  which  then  had  its  station  at  the  crossing  of  Main  and  Clay  streets  in  Troy 

and  remained  in  that  position  and  at  the  Big  Four  station  for  more  than  thirty  years. 

He  married  Margaret  Conner  in  February,  1867,  and  from  this  union  six  children  were  born.  He  died 
on  August  22nd,  1916,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years  and  was  buried  in  Forest  Hill  Cemetery 
Piqua,  Ohio. 

“Pat"  O’Conor,  as  he  was  familiarly  known,  was  devoted,  as  few  men  are,  to  a high  sense  of  duty 

and  was  the  soul  of  honor  and  good  citizenship.  He  was  a faithful  and  loving  son,  sending  money  back 

to  Ireland  in  support  of  his  aged  mother  during  her  lifetime,  and  yet  providing  generously  for  his  own 
growing  family. 

He  was  a faithful  member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  held  the  office  of  Trustee  in  the  same.  There  are 
few  citizens  of  Troy  more  than  thirty  years  of  age  who  do  not  have  a kindly  recollection  of  Mr.  O’Connor 
and  to  whom  he  did  not  render  some  service  at  the  old  depot.  He  had  just  pride  in  his  great  strength 
and  boasted  to  me  once  that  no  drummer’s  trunk  ever  came  to  the  Troy  depot  which  he  could  not  handle. 
When  he  finally  went  away,  he  left  behind  him  the  universal  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  the  filial 

affection  of  his  two  chidren  who  survive  him,  Michael,  born  Jan.  5,  1870,  and  Margaret,  born  August 

19th,  1874  and  his  several  grand  children.  The  former  is  now  a Troy  policeman  and  Margaret  married 
Edward  J.  Hennessey,  a prominent  contractor  on  June  7th,  1900,  from  which  union  five  children  have 
been  born  : Katherine,  August  9th,  1901  ; Margaret,  Sept.  23rd,  1905  ; Florence,  Oct.  28th,  1907  ; Rosa,  Oct. 
8th,  1909,  and  Edward,  Jan.  22nd,  1912. 

Edward  Hennessey,  the  husband,  with  his  brother,  has  built  many  of  the  streets  of  Troy  and  Piqua 
and  are  prosperous  contractors.  The  best  streets,  in  my  opinion,  ever  laid  in  Troy  are  such  as  those 
on  Water  and  West  Franklin,  placed  by  these  gentlemen. 

Mr.  O'Connor  and  his  wife  Margaret  lived  in  the  old  homestead  on  Main  Street  for  39  years  and  here 

their  children  first  saw  the  light  and  from  here  sought  their  wav  to  school  and  to  their  church,  nearby. 

When  Margaret,  his  wife,  passed  away,  on  Jan.  3,  1911,  aged  75  years  and  was  buried  in  Forest  Hill 
Cemetery,  Piqua,  Ohio,  he  made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Margaret,  the  wife  of  E.  J.  Hennessey. 


THE  HOME  OF  MILTON  TAYLOR  DILTS,  237  GRANT  STREE'I 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  three  miles  west  of  Troy,  on  his  father’s  farm  on  January  4,  1854,  and 
resided  with  his  father  and  mother,  William  B.  Dilts  and  Fannie  May  Taylor,  until  manhood.  When  seven 
years  of  age,  his  parents  moved  to  Muncie,  Indiana,  where  they  lived  until  1872,  when  they  moved  back 
to  Troy.  On  October  15,  1876,  he  was  wedded  to  Mamie  H.  Knisely.  from  which  union  two  children  were 
born,  Mrs.  Pearl  Luella  Stevens  and  Edith  May  Dilts.  Mr.  Dilts  is  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Red  Men,  and  the  Junior  Order.  He  was  a member  of  the  Troy  City  council  for  20  years  and  its  president 
for  several  terms.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Troy  and  served  during  1914-15  and  made  a record  for  economy 
and  efficiency  which  his  friends  claim  has  not  been  surpassed  in  the  history  of  the  city. 

He  is  a brick  and  stone  mason  and  a contractor.  He  has  erected  more  business  and  dwelling  houses 
in  Troy  than  any  man  who  lives  in  the  city.  Many  of  his  structures  were  erected  in  various  sections  of 
the  county.  Mr.  Dilts  is  a man  of  positive  views  which  he  maintains  with  the  same  energy  that  he  devotes 
to  his  business.  Being  a sincere  man,  he  has  little  sympathy  with  insincerty  in  others.  He  is  a generous 
friend  and  through  his  endorsement,  several  successful  men  owe  their  start  to  him. 


THE  HOME  OF  WALTER  E.  BOYER 
Troy,  Ohio 


Mr.  Boyer  was  born  at  Foster,  Warren  county.  Ohio,  in  March,  1873,  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  section,  and  in  the  High  School  at  Arcanum,  Darke  county,  and  for  several  years  there- 
after he  taught  school  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  Joseph  Mayer  & Sons,  dealers  in  leaf  tobacco, 
Arcanum,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  for  two  years.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Farmers  and 
Merchants  Banking  Company  at  Arcanum,  where  he  remained  until  he  accepted  the  position  of  book- 
keeper in  the  Troy  National  Bank,  in  August,  1894.  With  the  certainty  that  ability  and  industry  brings 
he  advanced  from  one  position  to  the  other  in  this  excellent  banking  institution  until  he  became  its 
President  in  1908,  which  postion  he  has  filled  with  signal  ability  up  to  the  present  date. 

In  February,  1896,  Mr.  Boyer  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Charlotte  Thompson  of  Troy,  from  which 
union  one  daughter,  Margaret,  was  born.  He  is  a member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which 
he  is  the  tresurer.  He  is  identified  with  the  Troy  Club,  the  Junior  Order,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason. 

Mr.  Boyer  is  fully  imbued  with  the  responsibility  of  citizenship  and  has  responded  by  serving  as  the 
President  of  the  Troy  School  Board  for  several  years.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  War  Chest  Fund  of  Miami 
County  and  enlisted  in  a responsible  degree  in  all  the  county  patriotic  committees  set  on  foot  to  win 
the  war. 

His  identification  as  stockholder  and  as  treasurer  of  several  of  our  successful  manufacturing  en- 
terprises, places  on  him  an  unusual  amount  of  responsibility  in  community  and  county  affairs,  all  of 
which  he  has  so  successfully  discharged  that  he  has  been  compelled  to  decline,  for  want  of  time,  several 
positions  of  tru  t which  he  has  been  urged  to  accept. 


THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 


327 


Union  Township,  Sec.  7-4,  6-5 

Benj.  Coppock,  entered  S.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
1-7-4,  165.92  @ Oct.  31,  1805. 

Ester  Pemberton,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec. 
12-7-4,  160  @ Oct.  24,  1806. 

Wm.  Nail,  entered  N.  E.  Qr,  Sec.  4-6-5, 
159-20  @ Dec.  5,  1804. 

Henry  Fouts  first  entered  land  in  Union 
township  in  Section  22  on  June  17,  1817. 
Joseph,  not  Caleb  Mendenhall,  entered 
land  on  Section  32  in  1805  and  Frederick 
Yount  did  not  enter  land  until  Oct.  14, 
1816.  Samuel  Jones,  not  mentioned  above, 
entered  land  on  June  25,  1805,  being  the 
one-half  of  Section  9. 

The  errors  in  former  histories  of  Miami 
county  in  relation  to  the  first  settlers, 
seems  to  have  originated  as  follows.  The 


Beers  people,  a supposed  reputable  pub- 
lishing house  of  Chicago,  111.,  sent  their 
gang  of  history  makers  into  Miami  county 
in  1880,  bent  on  pure  commerce.  In  every 
case  relating  to  early  settlers,  without  any 
local  knowledge,  they  depended  on  hear- 
say, and  that  which  they  were  told  was 
recorded  and  has  been  copied  by  each  suc- 
cessive historian  ( ?)  of  Miami  county 
from  that  time  to  the  present.  In  my  en- 
deavor to  correct  this  false  history,  I have 
selected  the  first  ten  names  in  each  town- 
ship to  receive  patents  from  the  govern- 
ment, prior  to  1807,  or  120  names  in  all. 
When  we  come  to  know  that  in  that  year, 
when  the  county  was  organized,  there  were 
but  208  voters  in  the  county,  it  will  be  seen 
that  I have  the  names  of  the  majority  of 
the  population  at  that  time. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


While  material  progress  had  been  made 
during  the  period  between  1807  and  1817 
and  we  had  attained  a population  of  about 
5000  souls,  I have  considered  this  interval 
as  the  period  of  organization,  to  be  after- 
ward treated  as  the  period  of  more  rapid 
progress.  In  this  I particularly  cover  the 
period  which  former  county  histories  have 
repeatedly  said  there  were  no  records,  they 
having  been  sold  for  waste  paper  by  a 
former  county  official. 

The  following  Act  of  the  Legislature  of 
Ohio  was  passed  January  16th,  1807 : “All 
that  part  of  Montgomery  County  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  laid  off  and  erected  into 
a separate  and  distinct  County  which 
shall  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
Miami,  to-wit : Beginning  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  Champaign  County,  and  south- 
east corner  of  Section  1,  township  2 and 
range  7 ; thence  west  with  the  line  be- 
tween ranges  9 and  10,  to  the  Great  Miami 
river,  crossing  the  same  in  such  direction 
as  to  take  the  line  on  the  bank  of  said 
river  between  township  3 and  4 in  range 
6 west  of  the  said  river ; thence  west  to  the 
State  line;  thence  north  with  the  same  to 
the  Indian  boundary  line ; thence  east  with 
the  same  to  the  Champaign  County  line; 
thence  south  with  the  said  County  line  to 
the  place  of  beginning.  From  and  after 
the  first  day  of  April,  1807,  said  County  of 
Miami  shall  be  vested  with  the  powers, 
privileges  and  immunities  of  a separate 
and  distinct  county.” 

Since  Montgomery  County,  prior  to  the 
organization  of  Miami,  embraced  within 
her  borders,  all  lands  west  of  Champaign 
to  Indiana  and  all  lands  north  to  Michi- 
gan, a territory  40  by  170  miles ; the  above 
act  created  an  area  of  40  by  45  miles  for 
328 


Miami  County  and  the  40  by  120  miles 
north  of  her  up  in  the  air.  The  organiza- 
tion of  Darke  County  in  1809  left  Miami 
with  an  area  of  but  20  by  45  miles.  The 
act  of  the  legislature  of  Ohio,  in  1812,  fol- 
lowing, made  her  area  20  by  150  miles  and 
she  so  remained  until  the  organization  of 
Shelby  County  in  1819,  when  she  was  re- 
duced to  her  present  limits. 

AN  ACT,  to  amend  an  act,  entitled,  “an 
act  for  the  division  of  Montgomery 
County.” 

WHEREAS  by  the  act  establishing 
Montgomery  County,  the  limits  of  said 
county  were  extended  to  the  northern 
boundary  of  this  state,  and  where  as  by 
the  above  recited  act,  the  limits  of  Miami 
county  were  confined  to  the  Indian  bound- 
ary line,  leaving  a tract  of  country  at- 
tached to  Montgomery  county,  over  which 
no  .jurisdiction  can  be  conveniently  exer- 
cised, THEREFORE, 

BE  IT  ENACTED  BY  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  OHIO, 
That  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Mont- 
gomery lying  north  of  the  county  of 
Miami,  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  at- 
tached to  the  said  county  of  Miami,  and 
all  that  lying  north  of  the  county  of  Dark, 
shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  attached 
to  the  said  county  of  Dark.  PROVIDED 
That  all  crimes  committed,  and  suits  and 
actions  now  pending  in  the  said  county  of 
Montgomery,  shall  be  prosecuted  to  final 
effect  in  the  same  manner  as  if  this  act 
had  not  passed. 

MATTHIAS  CORWIN, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

THOMAS  KIRKER, 
Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

January  7,  1812. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


329 


(Laws  of  Ohio,  1812) 

We  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
above  act  should  have  been  recorded  and 
that  this  history  is  the  first  medium 
through  which  the  people  of  Miami  county 
have  known  of  the  existence  of  the  act. 

“The  State  of  Ohio,  Miami  County:  Be 
it  remembered  that  on  the  21st  day  of 
July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1807,  being 
the  day  appointed  for  the  County  Com- 
missioners to  meet  at  the  home  of  Peter 
Felix  in  Staunton,  there  were  present 
Samuel  Janes,  William  Barbee,  Henry 
Gerard. 

Cornelius  Westfall  was  appointed  Clerk 
for  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners. 
The  Commissioners  proceeded  to  deter- 
mine by  lot  for  what  time  they  shall  sev- 
erally serve  in  office  and,  after  drawing, 
it  appeared  that  Samuel  Janes  is  to  con- 
tinue in  office  until  the  first  October  annual 
election.  William  Barbee  until  the  annual 
October  election  next  succeeding  and 
Henry  Gerard  until  the  annual  election 
next  succeeding. 

Ordered  that  this  county  be  divided  into 
townships  as  follows : the  first  township  to 
be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
Bethel  (here  follows  the  boundaries) . The 
second  township  to  be  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Concord  (boundaries  fol- 
low). The  third  township  to  be  called 
and  known  by  the  name  of  Union  (fol- 
lowed by  boundaries).  The  fourth  town- 
ship to  be  called  and  known  by  the  name 
of  Elizabeth  (followed  by  boundaries). 
The  fifth  township  to  be  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Washington  (followed  by 
boundaries-.  Andrew  Wallace  of  Concord 
was  appointed  County  Treasurer  with 
James  Marshall  and  John  Johnston  as 
bondsmen. 

Troy  was  laid  out  and  platted  under  and 
by  virtue  of  an  order  of  the  Common  Pleas 
Court  of  Miami  County,  Ohio.  The  follow- 
ing order  appears  in  Docket  1,  page  8, 
Common  Pleas  Court  records.  The  Com- 
missioners appointed  by  a Resolution  of 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Ohio  to  lay 


off  a seat  of  Justice  in  the  County  of 
Miami,  made  their  return  to  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  have  selected  as  the  most 
eligible  piece  of  ground  for  that  purpose, 
Fractional  section  21  and  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Section  28,  all  in  Town  5,  Range 
6,  East,  July  25th,  1807. 

JESSE  NEWPORT, 
DANIEL  WILSON, 
JOSEPH  LAMB, 

Commissioners. 

Robert  Crawford  was  appointed  by  the 
Court  Director  to  purchase  the  tract  des- 
ignated by  the  Commissioners  “the  seat 
of  Justice  of  this  County”  to  lay  off  the 
same  into  lots,  streets,  alleys  agreeable  to 
the  direction  of  the  Court  September  2, 
1807,  Docket  1,  page  10.  This  option  was 
had  under  an  Act  for  the  division  of 
Montgomery  County  passed  June  23,  1807. 
Under  the  orders  above  Robert  Crawford 
had  the  said  land  duly  surveyed  and 
platted  into  In  Lots  numbered  from  1 to 
87  inclusive  by  survey  and  plat  of  De- 
cember 16,  1807,  and  on  the  27th  day  of 
April,  1808,  said  Crawford  made  an  ad- 
dition which  included  the  1st  plat  and 
other  In  Lots  No.  88,  No.  173. 

The  first  lot  sold  in  Troy  by  Robert 
Crawford,  the  new  director,  was  lot  8 on 
Water  Street,  the  second  lot  north  and 
west  of  Market,  its  rear  fronting  on  the 
river. 

The  commissioners  failed  to  dedicate  the 
streets  to  public  use  and  the  title  to  the 
streets  embraced  in  the  original  surveys, 
stiff  remains  in  Miami  County.  They  have 
been  used  and  improved  by  the  people  of 
Troy  for  111  years  and  the  supposition 
of  the  author  is  that  since  they  have 
claimed  them  and  held  adverse  possession 
of  them,  the  statute  of  limitation  has  now 
vested  them  with  the  title,  but  I have  not 
consulted  any  legal  authority  on  this 
subject.  It  is  certain  that  property  own- 
ers did  not  own  to  the  middle  of  the  street 
as  is  the  case  usually.  Whether  the  fact 
that  they  have  paid  for  the  improvements 


330 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTS 


in  front  of  their  lots  for  all  these  years 
would  fix  the  title  in  them  in  case  the 
street  should  be  abandoned  seems  to  have 
been  of  such  small  concern  that  nobody 
has  ever  procured  a judicial  decision  on  it. 

On  July  22nd,  1807,  at  a meeting  of  the 
Commissioners  it  was  ordered  that  an 
election  of  township  officers  be  held  in  the 
five  townships,  created  up  to  that  date. 
The  license  for  hotel  keepers  was  fixed  at 
this  meeting  at  $4.00  and  the  license  for 
ferrymen  at  $1.00. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  on 
Sept.  3rd,  1807,  an  order  on  the  Treasury 
was  issued  to  Arthur  St.  Clair  in  the  sum 
of  $5.00  for  services  as  Prosecuting  At- 
torney. 

At  the  same  meeting,  it  was  ordered 
that  $1.25  be  paid  for  wolf  and  panther 
scalps.  On  the  same  date,  a petition  was 
received  from  the  residents  of  Elizabeth 
township  for  the  building  of  a road  from 
Dayton  to  Staunton.  On  the  same  date  a 
resolution  was  passed  “That  Peter  Felix  be 
allowed,  for  the  use  of  the  Court  House,  at 
each  term,  the  sum  of  $3.00.” 

At  their  meeting  on  November  16,  a pe- 
tition was  received,  signed  by  a number  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Bethel  township,  pray- 
ing for  a road  to  be  laid  out,  beginning  at 
Honey  Creek  bridge ; thence  to  Champaign 
County  line,  so  as  to  pass  by  David  Wal- 
lace’s; thence  to  Robert  Crawford’s  new 
house.  At  this  meeting  a commission  is 
cited  from  Thomas  Kirker,  acting  Gover- 
nor of  Ohio,  to  Stephen  Dye  as  Sheriff  of 
Miami  County,  for  which  a bond  in  the 
sum  of  $4,000  is  filed. 

On  June  1st,  1808,  the  road  petition  of 
Bethel  Township  was  disposed  of  as  fol- 
lows: “Said  road  cannot  be  had,  without 
being  burdensome  to  the  people.” 

On  April  1st,  1808,  William  Blue  is  al- 
lowed $2.50  for  two  wolf  scalps,  six 
months  old. 

On  April  2nd,  1808,  Cornelius  Westfall 
is  allowed  $6.00  for  his  services  as  Clerk  to 
the  Board  including  this  date,  and  fur- 
nishing stationery. 


When  we  come  to  know  that  the  Clerk’s 
office  of  Miami  County  in  the  present  day 
costs  $16  per  day  to  conduct  it  and  that 
Westfall  had  served  the  better  part  of  a 
year  for  $6.00  and  furnished  the  stationery 
out  of  that  stipend,  or  since  July  of  1807, 
we  are  led  to  repeat  “Great  oaks  from  little 
acorns  grow.”  The  first  year’s  taxes  col- 
lected in  Miami  County  was  $600,  and  is 
now  in  1917  about  an  even  million  dollars. 

On  June  6,  1808,  Andrew  Wallace  re- 
ported $362.62,  two-thirds  of  taxes  col- 
lected for  the  first  year  for  which  he  re- 
ceived the  sum  of  $12.65  for  the  collection 
therof,  but  this  did  not  include  the  State 
taxes. 

On  June  14,  1808,  the  commissioners 
fixed  the  charge  for  ferrymen  as  follows: 
“For  each  foot  passenger  6j4  cents,  for 
each  man  and  horse  121/2  cents,  for  loaded 
wagon  and  team,  fifty  cents.  Any  other 
four  wheeled  carriage  or  empty  wagon, 
371/2  cents,  for  every  loaded  cart  and  team, 
sled  or  sleigh  and  team  25  cents ; for  every 
horse,  mare,  mule  or  ass  or  other  meat 
cattle,  6%  cents,  and  for  every  sheep  or 
hog,  2 cents. 

On  August  10,  1808,  recorded  in  Volume 
1,  page  16,  the  town  of  Greenville,  Miami 
County,  was  chartered  by  the  County 
Commissioners  of  Miami  County. 

On  August  31,  1808,  the  building  of  a 
jmblic  jail  in  Troy,  to  be  finished  by  De- 
cember 20,  1808,  was  sold  to  Robert  C. 
Crawford  for  $433.50.  The  location  of 
this  jail  has  never  been  stated  in  any  his- 
tory of  record  but  I hope  hereafter  to  fix 
this  location  definitely. 

On  December  9,  1808,  “Ordered  that  the 
Court  of  Miami  County  be  held  in  the 
house  of  Benjamin  Overfield  in  Troy,  until 
a Court  House  is  built.  He  has  agreed  to 
furnish  a room  for  the  Court  to  sit  during 
the  time  or  term  aforesaid.”  The  reader 
will  please  note  this  contract,  when  con- 
fused by  statements  of  Court  being  held 
anywhere  else  than  the  Overfield  house, 
until  the  new  Court  House  in  the  Public 
Square  was  finished.  The  last  meeting  of 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


331 


the  Court  in  Staunton  was  held  on  Decem- 
ber 6,  1808,  in  the  home  of  Peter  Felix. 

“Through  the  cracked  and  crazy  wall 
Came  the  cradle  rock  and  squall, 

And  the  goodman’s  voice  at  strife 
With  his  shrill  and  tipsy  wife. 

Luring  us  by  stories  old 
With  a comic  unction  told 
More  than  by  the  eloquence 
Of  terse  ‘legal’  argument.” 

On  January  3,  1809,  by  an  Act  of  the 
Legislature,  Darke  County  was  formed  out 
of  the  western  part  of  Miami,  and  Green- 
ville was  made  the  county  seat.  The  or- 
iginal plat  and  record  covered  three  blocks 
by  six  blocks  with  the  Public  Square  in 
the  center,  as  adopted  on  our  records  has 
been  continued  and  now  form  the  basis 
of  all  title  in  the  most  valuable  portion  of 
that  thriving  city  which  has  outgrown  its 
parent. 

On  January  10,  1809,  John  Hart  was 
granted  a warrent  for  bringing  iron  for 
the  jail  from  Stillwater. 

On  June  13,  1809,  the  bounty  for  grown 
wolf  and  panther  scalps  was  raised  to 
$2.00  for  each  wolf  and  panther,  and  for 
each  wolf  or  nanther  under  six  months, 
$1.00. 

On  March  6,  1810,  the  sixth  township 
was  organized,  to  be  called  and  known  as 
Newton  township.  On  May  3,  1810,  the 
Clerk  was  authorized  to  advertise  a sale 
of  the  building  of  a house  convenient  to 
the  jail  of  this  county — the  jail  had  been 
finished  since  the  preceding  December. 

On  June  14,  1810,  John  Smith,  Jailor, 
was  allowed  $2.00  for  forty  days’  boarding 
a prisoner.  On  January  8,  1811,  a report 
was  made  of  the  amount  collected  on  what 
was  then  called  the  President’s  land  tax 
derived  from  the  sale  of  public  lands. 


Amount  of  duplicate $340.53.5 

Amount  due  County  113.51.5 

Collector’s  per  cent 13.62 

Due  District  Collector. 213.40 


On  June  10,  1810,  the  Commissioners 
paid  Robert  Crawford  for  his  services  as 
Director  of  the  Town  of  Troy:  for  pur- 


chasing the  land  and  selling  the  lots.  He 
had  sold  lots  to  the  value  of  $2,163.98  and 
had  paid  vouchers  in  the  amount  of  $2,- 
163.07,  and  orders  on  the  treasury  for 
$415.07,  and  soon  afterward,  moved  to 
Brookville,  Indiana,  and  from  thence  to 
Crawfordsville.  It  was  for  him  the  beau- 
tiful and  populous  city  was  named.  Many 
of  his  name,  his  descendents,  are  yet 
prominent  citizens. 

Andrew  Wallace  received  $24  for  mak- 
ing the  first  plat  of  Troy.  There  is  no 
record  to  be  found  of  the  amount  he  re- 
ceived for  his  second  survey  and  plat. 

Andrew  Wallace  served  as  County 
Treasurer  and  taught  the  first  school  in 
Troy,  held  in  a log  cabin  on  Franklin 
street  on  the  north  side  below  C.  II.  & D. 
R.  R.  One  of  his  pupils  was  his  son,  a boy 
of  eight  or  ten  years,  a likable  boy  whom 
everybody  called  “Dave.”  This  boy  after- 
ward became  the  efficient  Governor  of  the 
young  State  of  Indiana,  and  the  father  of 
the  celebrated  soldier,  diplomat  and  author 
who  has  so  charmed  all  the  world  in  his 
story  of  Ben  Hur  and  a tale  of  the  Christ, 
translated  into  all  the  languages.  “If  any 
of  my  readers,  visiting  Rome,  will  make 
the  short  journey  ta  the  Catacombs  of 
San  Calixo,  which  is  more  ancient  than 
San  Sebastiano,  he  will  see  what  became 
of  the  fortune  of  Ben  Hur  and  will  give 
thanks.  Out  of  this  vast  tomb,  Christian- 
ity issued  to  supersede  the  Caesars.” 

The  relationship  between  Andrew  Wal- 
lace (the  grandfather  of  Lew  Wallace)  the 
first  Surveyor  of  Troy,  and  the  great  au- 
thor was  obtained  in  the  following  man- 
ner. Ed.  M.  Cosley,  associated  with  H.  A. 
Cosley,  in  the  hardware  business  at  Main 
and  Cherry  streets  in  Troy,  secured  by 
correspondence  the  two  letters  herewith 
published  and  the  autograph  picture,  also 
herewith  published.  I am  under  other 
obligations  to  Mr.  Cosley,  hereby  acknowl- 
edged. He  is  the  most  industrious  amateur 
antiquarian  in  Miami  County  with  whom 
I have  acquaintance. 

On  June  4,  1811,  “John  Wallace  was 


332 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


appointed  the  Keeper  of  the  Standard 
Measures  of  Miami  County.” 

On  June  10,  1811,  Andrew  Wallace, 
Treasurer  of  Miami  County,  accounted  for 
the  receipt  of  $675,  for  the  preceding  year; 
this  did  not  include  the  State  taxes. 

On  January  6,  1812,  Thomas  W.  Furnas 
was  appointed  Sheriff  of  Miami  County 
by  Governor  Return  Jonathan  Meigs. 

On  January  7,  1812,  the  Commissioners 
settled  with  Andrew  Wallace  as  treasurer. 

The  meetings  during  this  period  were 
largely  employed  in  hearing  petitions  for 
new  roads  and  the  reports  of  surveys  on 
the  same. 

On  August  12,  1812,  William  Barbee 
gave  bond  as  the  Collector  of  taxes  for 
Miami  County  in  the  sum  of  $1,190.45,  or 
double  the  amount  of  the  collections  for 
the  previous  year. 

On  May  29,  1818,  the  Commissioners 
gave  bond  to  James  Youart  in  the  sum  of 
$500,  to  pay  him  the  sum  of  $250,  before 
the  first  day  of  August  next  “as  half  pay 
on  a bridge  the  said  Youart  had  contracted 
to  build  over  Honey  Creek  at  the  State 
Road — a novel  transaction. 

On  January  8,  1814,  I find  the  following 
entry  “Settled  with  Robert  Bains,  Collec- 
tor of  the  resident  proprietor’s  tax.” 
Amount  of  duplicate  $66.11.  On  June  2, 
1815,  I find  the  following  entry,  “the 
building  of  a brick  Court  House  in  Troy 
was  sold  at  public  sale  to  Fielding  Lowrey 
and  William  Barbee  for  $2490,  who  to- 
gether with  John  Johnston,  John  Knight 
and  William  Brown,  their  securities,  gave 
bond  to  the  Commissioners  in  the  sum  of 
$4940,  conditioned  for  their  completing 
said  building  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
January  next. 

On  March  28,  1816,  the  Commissioners 
paid  $200  on  the  Court  House  contract, 
which  was  to  have  been  completed  3 
months  prior  to  that  payment.  There  is 
no  entry  showing  that  additional  time 
had  been  allowed  the  contractors  and  yet 
they  pay  another  $133  on  May  8,  another 
$100  on  August  5.  On  September  2,  1816, 


I find  the  following  entry  which  indicates 
that  the  original  contract  was  probably 
for  the  walls  and  roof  of  the  Court  House. 
“The  sale  of  part  of  the  inside  work  of  the 
Court  House  was  advertised  on  September 
14,  last” — 1815 — also  the  sale  of  the 
painting  of  the  Court  House  was  adver- 
tised on  the  5th  of  August,  1816,  and  sold 
on  the  14th  of  September,  1816.”  The 
painting  of  the  Court  House  in  the  town 
of  Troy  was  sold  at  public  sale  to  Alexan- 
der McCullough  for  $185.  For  some  un- 
accountable reason,  the  location  of  this 
Court  House  is  not  given  in  the  contract 
with  Barbee  and  Lowrey  and  neither  is  it 
given  by  any  other  contemporary  author- 
ity at  any  subsequent  date.  That  neither 
of  the  three  histories  formerly  written 
about  the  County  do  not  definitely  estab- 
lish the  place  of  so  important  an  historical 
structure,  is  accounted  for  in  the  fact  that 
much  of  those  histories  were  not  serious. 

It  has  always  been  accepted  that  it  was 
erected  in  the  Public  Square  and  in  its 
center,  but  since  it  was  not  in  the  center, 
I regard  it  important  that  the  first  Court 
House  owned  by  the  County  should  be 
fixed  for  all  years  to  come.  In  our  en- 
deavor to  find  some  one  who  had  actually 
seen  this  Court  House,  I wrote  a letter  to 
M.  H.  Jones,  of  Piqua,  the  answer  to  which 
appears  in  the  plate. 

M.  H.  Jones  is  the  father  of  our  present 
Common  Pleas  Judge,  Walter  D.  Jones, 
having  practiced  law  here  beyond  my 
memory  and  being  now  92  years  of  age. 
George  Pluckebaum  took  me  in  his  auto- 
mobile to  the  County  Infirmary  where  I 
held  an  interview  with  Peter  Siler  living 
there  now,  July  15,  1917,  past  92  years  of 
age,  who  stated : “I  moved  from  Dayton  to 
Covington  and  from  there  to  Troy  in  1833. 
The  brick  Court  House  was  then  standing 
in  the  Public  Square.  Its  north  front  was 
on  a line  run  from  the  First  National  Bank 
corner  to  the  opposite  corner  of  Brown's 
Block.  The  whole  of  it  was  within  the 
south  half  of  the  Square.  It  was  a square 
brick  structure  with  four  rooms  below  and 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


333 


a large  room  above.  It  had  a hip  roof  and 
a cupola.  There  was  a driveway  around 
the  Court  House  from  the  Bank  to  the 
Brown  corner.”  Mr.  Pluckebaum,  whose 
company  prints  this  book,  was  present 
during  this  interview  which  is  certainly 
the  only  one  on  record  which  confirms  the 
fact  by  an  eye  witness  of  the  exact  location 
that  there  ever  was  a Court  House  in  the 
Public  Square. 

My  friend,  E.  M.  Cosley,  has  a photo- 
graph of  the  well-known  citizen,  Jacob 
Rohrer,  of  Tippecanoe,  on  which  he  has  a 
notation  from  a conversation  held  with 
Mr.  Rohrer  in  which  the  latter  expresses 
disgust,  when  on  his  road  on  horseback  to 
Covington  in  1837,  he  passed  the  Court 
House  on  the  Public  Square  and  saw  the 
hogs  rubbing  their  sides  against  its  walls. 

In  a former  history,  we  are  informed 
that  our  first  Court  House  was  a double 
log  cabin  with  a jail  at  the  back,  but  this 
having  been  written  by  the  same  gentle- 
man who  charges  that  the  records  between 
1807  and  1814  were  not  to  be  found,  he 
probably  meant  the  Benjamin  Overfield 
house  in  which  the  Court  met  and  which 
was  a double  cabin  with  an  upstairs,  in 
which  Court  was  held.  There  is,  however, 
no  authority  for  stating  that  there  was  a 
jail  there. 

The  date  of  contract  for  the  first  Court 
House  and  first  jail  in  Miami  County  is 
permanently  fixed  in  any  history  for  the 
first  time.  It  is  now  clear,  for  the  first 
time,  where  each  session  of  Court  was 
held,  viz. : at  the  house  of  Peter  Felix  in 
Staunton  until  December,  1808,  and  at 
the  house  of  Benjamin  Overfield  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Water  and  Mulberry 
streets  in  Troy  from  the  latter  date  until 
the  Court  moved  to  the  new  Court  House 
in  the  public  square,  to  be  developed  a 
little  later  on. 

It  will  be  noted  that  while  the  Commis- 
sioners have  sold  at  auction  the  building 
of  a new  jail,  they  have,  with  singular 
reticence  neglected  to  tell  us  on  what  lot 


this  jail  was  erected.  It  is  certain,  how- 
ever, that  this  first  jail  was  erected  near 
the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Plum 
streets,  diagonally  across  from  our  present 
Court  House.  The  evidence  of  this  fact 
consists  in  the  knowledge  that  lot  42  on 
which  this  corner  is  located  was  the  prop- 
erty of  the  County  and  the  earliest  knowl- 
edge we  have  is  that  there  was  a jail  at 
that  point.  Lot  42  on  the  original  Wallace 
plat  seems  to  have  been  left  in  the  name 
of  the  County  since  the  day  of  purchase. 
Robert  Crawford,  the  first  director,  un- 
doubtedly, was  instructed  to  not  sell  this 
lot  42,  which  embraced  half  the  land  be- 
tween Cherry  and  Plum  and  Main  streets, 
and  to  the  alley  westward  from  Main.  It 
is  a singular  fact,  that  while  the  brick 
house  on  the  corner  had  been  known  as 
the  Sheriff’s  residence  “since  the  memory 
of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary”  the 
records  do  not  show  any  title  in  the 
County  except  by  inference.  The  first 
transaction  in  which  this  corner  of  lot 
42  figures  was  1866,  when  the  County 
leased  the  former  Sheriff’s  residence  to 
J.  T.  Janvier  for  a residence  and  law 
office.  Several  of  Mr.  Janvier’s  children 
were  born  in  this  house,  and  he  died  there. 
As  further  corroboration  of  the  fact  that 
the  jail  contracted  by  the  Commissioners, 
at  their  meeting  in  Staunton,  August  31, 
1808,  was  on  lot  42,  consists  in  the  follow- 
ing from  Drake’s  picture  of  Cincinnati  and 
the  Miami  Country  published  in  1815 
which,  after  locating  Troy,  the  County  seat 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Miami  river,  72 
miles  north  of  Cincinnati,  says:  “No  per- 
manent County  buildings  have  yet  been 
created.  The  reserves  and  donations  are 
a square  for  the  Court  House ; one  lot  for 
the  jail,  another  for  the  cemetery  and  a 
square  for  the  Academy.  Vol.  1,  page  47 
of  the  Court  Records  reads  as  follows: 
Sept.  7,  1808,  “Ordered  that  lots  134,  135, 
145  and  146  be  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a school  house  and  acad- 
emy for  public  utility.”  These  lots  are 


334 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


now  occupied  by  the  Edwards  School 
Building.  Lots  117  and  118  where  the 
Forest  School  Building  now  stands  were 
reserved  for  cemetery  purposes. 

We  now  arrive  at  the  definite  conclusion 
that  since  the  Commissioners  did  not  lo- 
cate the  jail,  the  lot  42  reserved  for  that 
purpose  of  itself  locates  it.  It  is  not  likely 
to  have  been  built  on  a rented  lot  at  a time 
when  the  County  owned  its  own.  The  con- 
scientious historian  is  now  confronted 
with  a yearning  to  know  the  character  of 
the  structure  that  stood  on  lot  42  used  as  a 
jail,  before  the  brick  jail  was  built  on  the 
same  spot  in  1830.  No  man  alive  can  be 
found  who  saw  it  and  so  far  as  we  know, 
no  man  who  saw  it  when  alive  has  left  a 
record.  True,  one  of  our  County  histories 
says  “It  was  a double  log  cabin  with  a 
court  room  upstairs  and  jail  in  the  rear,” 
referring  to  the  “first  court  house  of  the 
County,”  which  would  also  account  for  the 
first  jail,  but  when  this  same  historian 
locates  it  near  Mrs.  Mackey’s,  which  was 
on  Franklin  street,  two  doors  below  the 
C.  H.  & D.  R.  R.,  on  north  side,  we  feel 
certain  he  has  “gone  around”  to  save  the 
labor  of  “digging  through.”  It  is  certain 
there  was  no  jail  at  the  Benjamin  Overfield 
court  house,  which  the  above  author  then 
had  in  mind. 

Benjamin  Overfield  kept  a tavern.  The 
room  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Mulberry 
was  a bar  room  and  the  Court  was  held 
in  the  large  room  immediately  above. 
There  was  an  entry  way  next  to  the  bar 
leading  to  the  stairway.  At  one  time  the 
reader  who  has  kept  pace  with  us  will 
note  that  ex-Governor  St.  Clair  had  acted 
as  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Miami  County 
and  in  his  service  had  become  acquainted 
with  some  of  our  leading  citizens  of  that 
day  and  among  them  George  Kerr,  a large 
land  owner,  the  progenitor  of  the  numer- 
ous Kerr  family,  now  living  in  Monroe 
Township.  St.  Clair  and  Kerr  were  en- 
joying themselves  at  the  bar  and  had  pre- 
sumably arrived  at  that  stage  of  sociability 


under  the  influence  of  the  cup  that  cheers, 
when  some  degree  of  hilarity  had  been  en- 
gendered which  annoyed  the  dignity  of  the 
Court  which  cited  them  to  appear  in  its 
presence.  Judge  Dunlavy  assessed  a fine 
of  $2.00  on  St.  Clair  and  Kerr  for  their 
breach  of  decorum  which  was  promptly 
paid  when  Kerr  said,  “Why  didn’t  you 
make  it  $10?” 

Judge  Dunlavy  replied,  “It  is  $10,  if 
Judge  Barbee  agrees.”  Judge  Barbee  re- 
plied, “I  agree  so  far  as  Kerr  is  con- 
cerned.” Whereupon  Kerr  flung  at  Judge 
Dunlavy  a statement  that  he  had  known 
the  Judge  when  he  “was  so  d-d  poor,  his 
wife  had  to  take  in  washing  to  support 
him. 

The  Overfield  house  was  a two-story  log 
and  remains  today  as  it  was  then,  except 
that  it  is  ceiled  on  the  inside  and  weather- 
boarded  on  the  outside.  This  house,  so 
well  presrved,  is  now  111  years  old. 

On  the  2nd  day  of  November,  1816,  the 
Commissioners  paid  $1.00  to  Legal  Trader 
for  crying  the  sale  of  the  inside  painting 
of  the  Court  House.  On  the  same  date, 
an  order  was  granted  to  Fielding  Lowrey 
and  William  Barbee  for  $1,000  as  part 
pay  on  their  Court  House  contract  and  on 
Dec.  31,  1816,  they  were  allowed  $256.25 
more  on  that  contract. 

On  the  same  date  is  the  following  entry : 
“The  whole  amount  paid  and  to  be  paid  to 
Fielding  Lowrey  and  William  Barbee  for 
building  the  Court  House  in  Troy  includ- 
ing extra  work  amounts  to  $3,090.  Bal- 
ance due  the  said  Lowrey  and  Barbee  on 
the  first  day  of  January,  1818,  is  $500, 
agreeable  to  settlement. 

On  June  2,  1817,  the  following  record  is 
made:  “This  is  to  inform  you  that  I will 
lollect  the  State  and  County  Tax  for  4^ 
per  cent.” 

(Signed)  ANDREW  WIATT. 

“I  propose  to  collect  the  State  Tax  levied 
|Dn  resident  land  within  Miami  County  for 
the  premium  of  six  percentum  on  the 


THOMAS  SHIDLER 

Peter  Shidler,  the  father  of  Thomas,  was  born  near  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  in  1750,  and  afterwards  moved 
to  Western  Pa.,  where  he  lived  until  1822,  when  he  came  to  Miaim  County.  He  died  on  July  19,  1830  and 
is  buried  at  the  Raper  Chapel  Church  Cemetery. 

Thomas  Shidler  was  born  in  Green  County,  Pa.,  on  June  19,  1796.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Penn,  who 
was  born  in  1794  and  was  a direct  descendant  of  the  celebrated  William  Penn.  Three  of  his  children 
were  born  in  Pa. 

In  1822,  he  and  his  young:  wife  brought  their  household  goods,  in  a two  horse  wagon  to  Miami 
County.  The  wife  rode  on  horseback,  carrying  the  youngest,  a son,  four  weeks  old,  named  John, 
afterward  to  become  the  village  blacksmith  of  Fletcher  and  known  as  the  strongest  man  in  Miami  County. 
Thomas  first  settled  two  miles  south  of  Lena  and  one  year  afterward  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter 

of  section  15  of  Lost  Creek  Township,  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Thomas  Shidler  was  a large  man,  six  feet  in  height,  broad  shoulders  and  at  one  time  weighed 

over  three  hundred  pounds.  He  was  fearless  and  brave,  but  never  quarrelsome,  and  noted  for  his  peaceable 

disposition. 

He  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  Lost  Creek  Township  for  22  years,  an*!  for  many  years  kept  a country 
store  at  the  hamlet  of  Sodom  and  was  a popular  auctioneer. 

It  was  said  of  him  that  he  knew  Swan’s  Treatise  by  heart,  which  gave  him  the  title  of  the  lawyer  of 

Lost  Creek.  In  that  day,  most  of  the  country  litigation  was  settled  before  a country  squire  and  a jury 

of  six  men.  Mr.  Shidler  was  on  one  side  of  most  cases  tried  before  the  justices  of  the  peace,  in  Lost 
Creek  and  Elizabeth  of  Miami,  and  Jackson  Township  of  Champaign,  and  Pike  Township  of  Clarke. 

At  my  father’s  home,  he  held  court,  in  the  summer  time,  under  the  spreading  branches  of  a giant  apple 
tree  known  throughout  all  the  country  side  as  the  “hog-pen  apple,”  a seedling  producing  an  excellent 
autumn  fruit.  As  a boy,  I have,  many  times,  stoop  agap,  listening  to  '"Tom”  Shidler  plead  his  client’s 
case  before  my  father.  It  is  said  that  before  eroing  td  court,  he  invariably  endeavored  to  settle  the 
case  by  compromise.  The  lawyers  of  Piqua  and  Troy  held  the  ability  of  “Tom”  Shidler  before  a country 
justice  and  jury  in  the  higest  respect  and  were  never  certain  of  a decision  when  this  strong  common- 
sensed  antagonist  was  in  the  case.  While  his  eloquence  was  of  a homely  kind,  it  was  none  the  less 
convincing,  which  coupled  with  shrewdness  and  magnetism  made  him  a power  to  be  reckoned  with. 

He  left  home,  one  day,  to  try  a case  before  a near-bv  justice  and  told  his  son  John,  who  was  6 feet, 

S1/)  inches  in  height,  to  hoe  a lot  in  potatoes.  On  returning  and  finding  John  had  not  completed  the 
work,  he  was  informed  by  Mary,  his  wife,  that  some  of  the  neighbor  boys  had  come  by  and  induced  him 
to  go  with  them  to  a sale  in  the  neighborhood  : and  against  his  wife’s  advice,  went  off  in  some  temper 
to  bring  John  back  to  complete  his  work.  When  he  found  his  boy,  John  said,  “Never  mind,  dad,  the  boys 
have  promised  to  help  me  finish  this  evening.”  but  this  did  not  satisfy  the  father  and  he  sought  to 
pull  John  along  with  him  to  the  spanker,  whereupon  John  picked  up  his  ponderous  dad,  lifted  him  into 
the  seat  and  said,  “Go  home.  Dad,  I’ll  come  and  the  boys  will  help  me.”  When  the  father  arrived  home 
with  his  old  heart  thrilled  with  pride,  he  said,  “Mary,  think  of  it!  He  laughed  at  me  and  picked  me 
up  like  I was  a baby.” 


THE  HOME  OF  DR.  THOMAS  J.  PENCE 

Thomas  Jefferson  Pence  was  born  on  a Lost  Creek  farm,  near  the  hamlet  of  Sodom,  on  Feb.  24,  1847, 
and  lived  with  his  parents,  James  T.  Pence  and  his  mother  Nancy  Shidler  Pence,  until  after  he  had 
attained  his  majority.  His  father  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  in  1822  and  came  to  Miami  County 
'vith  his  people  when  a lad  of  a dozen  years.  He  married  Nancy  Shidler  on  Oct.  19,  1841  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Shidler,  one  of  the  historical  characters  of  Miami  County,  who.  for  two  terms  repre- 
sented Maimi  County  in  the  State  Legislature  where  he  achieved  distinction.  The  father  of  Mr.  Pence  died 
on  Feb.  24,  1883,  and  the  mother  went  away  on  April  21,  1908,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  88  years. 

T^omas  Jefferson  Pence  was  married  to  Eliza  Julian  Roach  of  Clark  County,  Ohio,  on  March  15,  1892 
with  whom  he  still  lives  happily  on  the  sunset  side  in  their  nicely  equipped  heme  on  East  Main  Street 
in  Troy. 

Whle  Mr.  Pence  received  but  the  common  school  education  afforded  in  Lost  Creek  township,  he  de- 
veloped a mathematical  turn  of  mind  which  conducted  his  mind  particularly  toward  astronomy  to  which 
study  he  has  devoted  much  intelligent  attention.  He  is  a reader  of  current  literature,  keeping  abreast 
of  the  best  thought  of  the  times  which  makes  him  one  of  our  mc.'t  interesting  citizens  in  private  con- 
versation. 

While  a farmer  all  his  life  and  still  the  owner  of  two  good  farms,  he  early  became  the  neighborhood 
authority  on  the  treatment  of  diseases  in  stock,  until  thirty-one  years  ago,  he  moved  to  Troy,  where  he 
could  more  readily  attend  to  the  ever  increasing  demand  throughout  Miami  County  for  his  services  as 
a veterinary  surgeon.  I have  had  the  pleasure  of  a personal  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Pence  for  a half 
century  and  have  known  him  as  a clean  wholesome  citizen.  He  and  his  wife  worship  at  the  First  Chris- 
tian Church  of  Troy. 


Thomas  Shidler — Continued  from  previous  page 

Thomas  Shidler  was  a member  of  the  Lost  Creek  Christian  Church  and  contributed  liberally  to  its 
maintenance.  Mrs.  Thomas  Shidler  died  on  the  13th  day  of  July,  1870,  and  after  her  death,  he  lost 
much  of  his  interest  in  life  and  remained  close  on  the  old  homstead,  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Pence,  and  died  at  her  home  on  the  13th  day  if  February,  1877,  and  left  to  his  children  and  grand- 
children a priceless  legacy  in  an  honorable  name. 

His  services  in  the  legislature  of  Ohio  in  1839  were  conspicouous  in  the  fact  that  his  industry 
and  power  in  argument  made  him  a leader.  Thomas  Shidler  was  one  of  the  most  original  and  unique 
and  altogether  strong  men  of  Miami  County  and  to  this  day,  the  mention  of  his  name  awakens  the 
memory  of  a hundred  interesting  stories  of  his  life. 

His  brother  John,  who  came  to  Miami  County  with  his  father,  was  sheriff  of  Miami  County  in  31-4. 
Two  sisters.  Mrs.  William  McCullough  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Mitchell  also  settled  in  Lost  Creek  Township. 
Through  them,  D.  M.  McCullough  of  Troy  became  the  grand  nephew,  and  Mrs.  Jacob  A.  Davy,  the  grand 
niece  of  Thomas  Shidler. 

He  was  the  grandfather  of  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Pence,  the  picture  of  whose  home  in  Troy  and  a sketch 
of  whose  life  appears  in  the  succeeding  pages. 


JESSE  SHILLING 

The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1825,  and  came  with  his  father  and  mother, 
William  and  Hannah  Shilling  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  182/.  He  was  educated  and  learned  the  foundry  busi- 
ness there.  He  once  told  me  he  could  construct  every  part  cf  a steam  engine  and  run  it. 

On  November  4,  1844,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Alice  E.  Carleton,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  who  was  born 
September  4,  1825,  being'  a cousin  of  Will  Carleton  of  Hillsdale.  Michigan,  who  wrote  “Over  the  Hills  to 
the  Poor  House,”  and  other  beautifully  pathetic  verses.  From  this  union  was  born  Townsend  C.  Shilling, 
on  October  30,  1845;  Olive  A.  Shilling,  January  3,  1848;  Mary  E.  Shilling,  April  8,  1852;  Clara  E.  Shill- 
ing, July  23,  1854;  Jesse  Shilling  Jr.,  April  19.  1857;  Henry  Franklin  Shilling,  October  13,  1859;  Ellen 

Eliza.  Shilling,  February  13,  1862.  Of  these  Henry  Franklin  died  May  23,  1906  ; Clara  E.,  May  23,  1907, 

and  Ellen  Eliza,  December  16,  1914. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Shilling  moved  to  Troy  with  his  family  and  under  the  firm  name  of  Shilling  brothers, 
engaged  in  the  foundry  business.  Many  of  the  iron  fences  yet  standing  in  Troy  were  made  by  this  firm 
of  three  brothers.  Mr.  Shilling  was  the  pioneer  of  the  Troy  fire  department,  of  which  he  was  the  first 
and  remained  the  chief  for  many  years. 

Up  to  1883,  the  drinking  and  cooking  water  in  Troy  was  pumped  from  wells  ranging  from  12  to  20 
feet  in  depth.  Through  the  initiative  of  Mr.  Shilling,  a chemical  analysis  of  our  water  was  made  and 
found  to  contain  typhoid  germs.  At  the  fall  election  in  1882,  Jesse  Shilling,  James  H.  Young  and  Frank 
M.  Sterrett  were  created  a board,  under  the  Strtutes  of  Ohio,  to  construct  water  works,  and  an  appro- 
priation of  $80,000  was  made  by  the  city  council  for  that  purpose.  It  was  Mr.  Shilling  alone  who  superin- 
tended the  laying  of  the  water  mains  which  on  the  final  test  under  a pressure  of  250  pounds  to  the  square 
inch  blew  out  but  two  pipes  out  of  a line  cf  more  than  eight  miles,  the  smallest  percent  in  such  construc- 
tion in  the  history  of  Ohio.  I have  often  seen  him  go  into  the  ditch  and  seize  the  hammer  from  the 
workman  and  practically  demonstrate  to  him  how  to  perform  work.  He  was  the  father,  not  only  of  our 
fire  department,  but  of  our  water  works,  the  finest  and  most  perfect  system  in  Ohio. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Shilling  honored  me  with  a week’s  visit  at  my  heme  in  St.  Louis,  where  the  great  fire 
Chief  Clay  Sexton,  who  had  met  him  in  fire  conventions  and  admired  him.  helped  me  entertain  my  friend 
If  “Uncle  Jess”  is  looking  down  from  Heaven,  as  I believe  the  departed  do,  he  is  smiling  in  memory  of 

that  enjoyable  season.  Mr.  Shilling’s  face  wa>  a’most  a counterpart  cf  that  of  President  Garfield.  He 

thought  clear  and  clean  thoughts  and  performed  clean  actions.  I have  never  known  any  man  capable  of 
a closer  and  purer  friendship. 

“And  ye  shall  succor  men 
’Tis  nobleness  to  serve 
Help  them  who  cannot  help  again 
Beware  from  right  to  swerve.” 

—Emerson. 


CHARLES  HENRY  McCULLOUGH 

Was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio,  on  August  2,  1835,  and  died  in  Trov.  Ohio,  May  17,  1915.  He  was  the  nephew 

of  Alex.  McCullough,  one  of  the  founders  of  Troy  and  a son  of  John  McCullough,  who  moved  to  Logans- 

port,  Indiana,  in  later  life,  where  some  of  his  family  still  reside.  The  mother  of  Charles  was  Elisabeth 
Ayres,  of  New  Jersey.  Charles  was  the  eldest  child,  after  which  came  Augusta,  Elisabeth,  Julia,  John, 
Emma  and  Mary,  the  latter  three  dead. 

The  boyhood  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  spent  in  Troy  where  he  attended  school.  He  once  said  to 
me,  “I  am  one  of  the  few  men  now  living,  who  saw  the  old  court  house  in  the  public  square ; the  first 
canal  packet  arrive  in  Troy  in  1837  ; with  General  Harrison  on  board  and  the  first  railroad  train  in  1852. 
He  worked  five  years  at  the  tinners  trade.  On  October  10,  1861,  he  married  Nancy  Telford  and  from  this 
union  were  born:  Eugene  T..  Heber  A.  Walter  G,  George  E.,  and  Frank  A.  McCullough.  Engene  T.  died 
many  years  ago;  Heber  A.  remains  on  the  home  farm,  on  Ridge  avenue;  Walter  G.  is  a graduate  of  Michigan 
university  and  practices  law  in  Washington.  D.  C.  ; George  E.  McCullough  graduated  at  the  Cincinnati 

Medical  college  and  is  at  the  head  of  his  profession  in  Troy  and  is  the  proprietor  of  the  prinicipal  hospital 

in  the  city,  adjoining  his  comfortable  home  at  Plum  and  Franklin  streets.  He  is  a member  of  the  School 
board  of  Troy  ; a member  of  the  Troy  club  and  a Knight  Templar  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  married  Jessie 
Von  Beseler  in  1904,  from  which  union  three  children  have  been  born  Nancy,  Caroline,  and  Mary  Isabel. 
The  death  of  Nancy  in  1915,  hastened  the  death  of  her  grandfather,  who  was  deeply  attached  to  the  beau 
tiful  child.  Caroline  and  Mary  Isabel  r re  ever  welcome  visitors  at  our  home  just  across  the  street.  Frank 
A.  McCullough,  D.D.S..  is  a leading  and  successful  practitioner  of  dentistry  in  Troy.  He  married  Miss  Bessie 
McKnight.  These  sons  of  Charles  Hen»*y  are  of  the  fourth  generation  of  Troy  citizenship.  In  May.  1864, 
Charles  Henry  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  147  O.  V.  I.,  under  Captain  David  Kelley.  He  and  his  wife  worshipped 
at  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  which  he  was  a deacon.  In  1869,  he  entered  the  dairy  business  to  which 
he  afterwards  admitted  his  s^ns  as  partners,  in  which  he  remained  for  40  years.  He  personally  carried  the 
larger  proportion  of  the  product  to  their  Troy  customers.  “How  many  visits  would  a man  make  to  all  of 
his  200  customers  going  once  a day  for  40  years?”  I asked  him  and  between  us  we  figured  it  to  make  about 
3,000,000  visits.  This  is  a record  of  industry  and  devotion  to  business,  which  is  reached  quite  infrequently. 
While  engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  he  was  constantly  improving  the  stock  of  Miami  county..  He  was 
among  the  first  to  import  Percheron  stallions,  Abdallah  road  horses  and  Jersey  cows.  He  was  the  first  to 
introduce  and  use  many  of  the  new  agricultural  implements  of  the  day. 

When  once  our  heavenly-guided  soul  shall  climb ; 

Then,  all  this  earthly  grossness  quit, 

Attired  with  Stars,  we  shall  for  ever  sit. 

Triumphing  over  death,  and  chance,  and  thee,  O Time.” 

— Milton. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


339 


amount  and  also  the  amount  of  the  County 
Tax  for  the  premium  of  1-3  percentum.” 
CORBLEY  MARTIN. 

On  June  3,  1817,  is  the  following  entry 
“Settled  with  Corbley  Martin,  Collector  of 
the  State  and  County  Tax  for  the  year 
1816. 

The  amount  of  duplicate $1,742.42.2 

Amount  of  defalcation 25.61.4 

$1,716.80.8 

Collector’s  per  cent 67.81.3 


$1,643.97.5 

Amount  of  non-resident  and  Collector’s 

receipts  1,607.73.4 

Collector’s  Mileage  to  Hamilton 6.16.0 


$ 31.26.1 

6.96.0 


$ 24.30.1 

On  the  same  date,  “Settled  with  William 
Brown  and  that  he  has  received  since  the 
first  Monday  in  June  last  for  land  tax 
being  the  County  proportion  for  the  year, 


Land  $ 316.46.3 

For  County  Tax  for  1816 1,186.16.5 

Fines  88.23 

Tavern  and  Store  licenses 203.08 

Sale  of  Lots 100.00 

Not  in  statement,  balance  for  1815 46.67.4 

Amount  of  Cash  in  Treasury  from  last 
year  345.07.5 


$2,327.70 

I have  copied  the  figures  and  am  not  re- 
sponsible for  the  mathematics. 

On  October  20,  1817,  Fielding  Lowrey 
for  services  rendered  painting  cupalo  of 
Court  House  $29.75. 

January  5,  1818,  Fielding  Lowrey  and 
William  Barbee,  part  pay  for  building  the 
Court  House  $399.00.  Henry  Gerard, 
Alex.  Telford,  Commissioners.  Cornelius 
Westfall,  Clerk. 

Troy,  March  2,  1818,  same  Commis- 
sioners. Thomas  R.  Ross,  services  as 
Prosecuting  Attorney,  $33.33i/3. 

February  3,  1818.  Borrowed  of  the 
Troy  congregation  of  Presbyterians  $58.60 


which  was  applied  for  sash  and  glazing 
for  the  Court  House  which  is  to  be  re- 
turned without  interest  three  years  from 
date,  if  called  for,  with  privilege  of  holding 
meetings  in  said  house  when  Court  is  not 
being  held. 

Borrowed  of  Barbee  and  Telford  $57, 
which  was  applied  to  furnishing  glass  for 
the  Court  House  which  is  to  be  paid  to 
the  Troy  congregation  of  Presbyterians  at 
the  term  of  three  years,  if  called  for,  with- 
out interest  as  above. 

On  October  17,  1818,  Vol.  2,  page  134, 
James  Gerard  and  Levi  Hart  entered  into 
a contract  to  finish  a part  of  the  inside 
of  the  Court  House  and  to  receive  therefor 

the  sum  of  $435. 

On  March  19,  1819,  Vol.  2,  page  150, 
the  commissioners  agreed  with  Allen  Nes- 
bet  to  paint  al  the  inside  panel  work  in 
the  new  Court  House  and  desk,  he  to  put 
on  two  coats  of  blue  and  one  of  lead  to 
be  done  in  a workmanlike  manner  and 
completed  by  the  20th  day  of  April  next, 
for  which  he  is  to  receive  an  order  on 
the  County  Treasurer  for  $30. 

On  April  17,  1819,  Vol.  3,  page  36,  Allen 
Nesbet  was  paid  $37.50  for  painting  inside 
work  of  the  new  Court  House  and  five 
chairs. 

On  September  16,  1819,  Vol.  3,  page  50, 
Levi  Hart  received.  $3.18%  for  summoning 
grand  jury  for  the  August  term,  furnish- 
ing glass  tumblers,  cleaning  Court  House 
at  Supreme  Court  term  in  June.  My 
readers  may  suppose  that  these  Courts 
were  held  in  the  new  brick  Court  House 
in  the  square,  but  subsequent  records  will 
show  that  this  Court  House  was  not  fin- 
ished for  some  years  afterward.  It  is  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  the  time  it  was 
first  used  that  these  records  are  being 
inserted. 

I regard  it  important  to  establish  for 
the  first  time,  these  dates  which  have 
heretofore  been  unmentioned  in  history 
and  more  frequently  improperly  written. 

On  August  8,  1820,  Vol.  3,  page  73, 


340 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


order  No.  42,  William  Brown  was  paid 
$12.64  for  providing  for  fastenings  and 
placing  them  for  windows  in  the  Court 
House. 

On  August  31,  1820,  paid  $50  “for  fin- 
ishing a room  in  the  Court  House  agree- 
able to  contract.”  This  is  the  first  record 
that  shows  any  part  of  the  new  Court 
House  to  have  been  finished.  There  is  no 
evidence  that  the  room  was  used,  when 
finished,  but,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
business  of  the  County  was  growing  and 
the  room  in  the  Benjamin  Overfield  house 
must  have  been  limited,  occupied  as  it  was 
for  a court  room,  a tavern  and  a bar  room, 
I feel  safe  in  saying  that  from  this  date, 
this  room  was  used  by  at  least  one  of  the 
county  officers  and  perhaps  by  more. 

On  November  14,  1820,  Vol.  3,  page  84, 
order  278,  James  Youart  was  paid  $4.50 
for  work  on  the  stairs  of  the  Court  House, 
and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month  they 
issued  Order  No.  329  for  12  chairs  for  the 
Court  House.  The  presumption  is  that 
these  were  Jurymen’s  chairs  as  they  cost 
$18.00. 

On  January  1,  they  paid  for  inside  work 
on  the  Court  House  the  sum  of  $30. 

On  March  21,  1821,  Vol.  3,  page  92,  they 
paid  Ebenezer  Redmund  for  furnishing 
materials  for  furnishing  3 rooms  in  the 
Court  House  inside  and  doing  the  carpen- 
ter work  therof  $49.68.  On  June  4,  they 
paid  50  cents  for  work  on  four  benches. 

On  July  20,  1821,  the  Commossioners 
paid  Thomas  Fauquier  $15  for  material 
for  plastering  the  Court  House.  On  Octo- 
ber 1,  1821,  they  paid  Thomas  Fauquier 
$54.75  for  balance  for  clearing  the  Court 
House  and  $42.75  to  the  same  gentleman 
another  balance  for  plastering  material. 

On  October  7,  1822,  Vol.  3,  page  121, 
the  Commissioners  sold  the  casings  and 
glazing  for  windows  and  doors  of  the  up- 
per and  lower  stories  of  the  Court  House 
to  James  Shepherd,  who  entered  into  an 
article  to  do  the  whole  work  for  $114. 
There  are  now  four  rooms  finished,  or  all 


the  lower  floor,  but  the  Court  room  on  the 
upper  floor  is  still  unfinished. 

On  March  17,  1823,  Vol.  3,  page  126, 
the  Commissioners  sold  the  job  of  lathing 
and  plastering  the  Court  House  to  Moses 
Gerard  for  $168. 

On  October  11,  1823,  Vol.  3,  page  132, 
the  Commissioners  examined  the  plaster- 
ing of  the  Court  House  and  considered  the 
job  well  done  and  ordered  that  Moses  Ger- 
ard have  an  order  on  the  Treasurer  for 
the  amount  agreed  upon.  This  plastering 
was  the  Court  Room  proper. 

On  March  1,  1824,  Vol.  3,  page  135,  the 
Commissioners  made  a final  settlement 
with  Wiliam  Barbee  and  Fielding  Lowrey 
for  building  the  Court  House  and  found 
the  balance  due  said  Barbee  and  Lowrey 
to  be  $138.37  “which  was  this  day  paid  by 
an  order  on  the  Treasurer  of  this  County.” 

On  March  2,  1824,  W.  I.  Thomas  was 
employed  to  bring  suit  against  Robert 
Crawford,  the  first  Director  of  Troy,  for 
moneys  received  on  the  sale  of  lots  not 
turned  over  to  the  County. 

On  Dec.  7,  1824,  the  Commissioners 
made  a contract  with  William  Norris  for 
a bell  for  the  use  of  the  Court  House, 
weighing  104  pounds  at  a price  of  $48. 
On  April  9,  1825,  a floor  under  the  belfry 
was  contracted  for. 

The  first  term  of  Court  was  held  in  the 
new  Court  House  in  April,  1825.  The 
Court  House  had  been  more  than  ten  years 
in  building  and  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, in  the  absence  of  plans  and  spec- 
ifications, from  the  various  sums  paid  out 
to  the  various  parties,  the  cost  was  about 
$4,500. 

Its  building  was  first  let  to  William  Bar- 
bee and  Fielding  Lowrey  for  $2,400,  and 
afterward  without  explanation  raised  to 
$3,090,  which  so  far  as  the  reading  fur- 
nishes information,  was  for  the  entire 
work,  but  it  will  be  seen  by  the  record 
above  quoted  that  the  lathing,  plastering, 
glazing  and  carpentering  work  was  per- 
formed by  others  and  orders  drawn  to 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


341 


them  for  their  work.  It  is  unfortunate 
that  our  early  officials  did  not  leave  behind 
a higher  evidence  of  business  acumen  than 
appears  on  their  records.  I have  estab- 
lished, however,  with  reasonable  accuracy, 
the  principal  matters  of  moment  transpir- 
ing in  the  history  of  the  County  from  its 
creation  in  1807  to  the  time  in  April,  1825, 
when  it  held  Court  in  its  own  building ; the 
character  of  the  building  and  its  location. 
These  first  18  years  of  our  history  may 
properly  be  called  the  formative  period  of 
Miami  County  and  that  from  this  period 
on  to  the  second  Court  House,  was  the  ex- 
pansion period  in  which  the  County  be- 
came populous  and  comparatively  rich; 
when  schools  were  planned,  churches  built, 
when  we  discarded  our  swaddling  clothes 
and  assumed  the  size  of  full  grown  people. 

On  April  9,  1825,  a back  house  on  the 
jail  lot  was  authorized  as  well  as  a fence 
around  the  jail  lot.  On  April  11,  1826,  a 
brick  house  32x19  for  the  jailor  was  ad- 
vertised. Joseph  M.  Skinner  performed 
the  brick  work  for  $231,  and  Richard 
Armstrong  the  carpenter  work  for  $138. 

On  August  2,  1826,  the  Commissioners 
granted  an  order  in  part  payment  of  the 
money  borrowed  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  supposition  is  that  they 
were  asked  for  it,  in  the  fact,  the  reader 
will  recollect,  it  was  not  to  be  paid  back 
"unless  called  for.”  What  part  of  it  was 
paid  back  we  are  left  to  surmise.  If  we  do 
not  discover  later  on,  that  it  was  all  paid 
back,  both  the  historian  and  the  reader 
will  be  left  in  surmise  about  this  unique 
business  transaction. 

On  August  2,  1826,  "The  Commissioners 
cancelled  the  bond  signed  by  W.  I.  Thomas 
and  others  to  indemnify  the  County  for 
money  paid  for  the  building  of  the  school 
house  in  the  town  of  Troy,  and  took  a bond 
from  Cornelius  Westfall,  Levi  Hart  and 
Joseph  R.  John,  directors  of  the  third 
school  district  in  Concord  township  in  said 
County  to  indemnify  the  County  in  the 
sum  of  $112.75.  While  I have  evidence  of 


several  schools  having  been  taught  in 
Troy,  prior  to  this  date,  they  were  purely 
private  schools  but  since  this  one  was  semi 
public  in  its  character  and  the  first  one 
erected  in  Troy  by  public  money,  it  de- 
serves special  mention.  The  Commission- 
ers of  Miami  county  had  been  induced  to 
take  the  sum  of  $112.75  out  of  the  county 
treasury  and  build  a school  house.  It 
seems  that  they  would  not  agree  to  do  this 
until  three  citizens  of  the  town  had  agreed 
to  and  did  make  a bond  to  indemnify  the 
Commissioners  against  loss.  These  public 
spirited  gentlemen  sought  to  transfer 
their  responsibility  to  where  it  properly 
belonged,  the  three  Trustees  of  the  town- 
ship. The  house  was  built  on  the  south 
east  corner  of  the  Edwards  School  Build- 
ing lot,  which  entire  block  had  been  re- 
served by  the  County  Commissioners  at 
the  organization,  in  Staunton,  for  acad- 
emy purposes,  as  heretofore  related. 

I know  that  this  school  house  was  after- 
ward abandoned  for  school  purposes  and 
used  as  a place  of  worship  by  the  colored 
people  but  the  year  is  not  clear  and  cannot 
be  fixed  by  any  public  record  and  may 
have  ben  at  any  time  between  1826  and 
1840.  There  are  no  public  records  avail- 
able that  will  inform  us  whether  the  Trus- 
tees ever  paid  the  cost  of  the  building  to 
the  Commissioners,  as  they  no  doubt  did, 
but  I have  at  least  established  when  and 
where  the  first  school  house  built  with 
public  funds  was  located.  In  Vol.  3,  page 
173,  December  5,  1826,  the  Commissioners 
ordered  Daniel  Grosvenor,  clerk,  to  ascer- 
tain the  amount  due  the  Presbyterian 
church  from  the  county  and  draw  an  order 
on  the  county  treasurer  for  the  same  when 
demanded.  If  the  reader  is  curious  about 
this  remarkable  contract  they  will  be  pa- 
tient with  me  until  I find  out  whether  it 
was  ever  paid.  The  reader  will  note  that 
the  amount  borrowed  was  $58.60  and  the 
loan  was  made  on  January  8,  1818.  On 
June  5,  1827,  the  Commissioners  ordered 
that  the  county  printing  be  given  to  Fair- 
field  at  Troy  and  be  done  at  37i/£  cents  per 


342 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


square  by  his  agreement  of  this  date. 
This  is  the  first  official  record  of  a news- 
paper in  Troy.  It  was  “The  Miami  Re- 
porter” established  in  1822  by  Michael 
Fairfield  from  Parkersburg,  Va.  Mr. 
Fairfield  had  married  the  widow  Neale, 
the  mother  of  Mrs.  W.  I.  Thomas.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  the  latter  did  not  ar- 
rive in  Troy  until  1824  and  was  married 
in  1828.  On  January  10,  1828,  Alexander 
McCullough,  whose  picture  and  sketch  ap- 
pears in  this  history,  was  awarded  the 
contract  for  fencing  the  court  house  and 
a hand  rail  for  the  sum  of  $72.  On  June  3, 
1828,  a job  was  advertised  in  the  “public 
paper”  for  repairing  the  windows  and 
shutters,  painting  the  cupola,  windows  and 
door  frames  white;  the  window  shutters 
green  and  the  house  Vermillion  red  and 
penciling  with  white  lead  and  penciling  the 
foundation  of  the  court  house  which  work 
was  sold  to  Daniel  W.  Wallace  for  S124, 
on  June  30,  1828.  On  December  8,  1829, 
a door  was  authorized  for  the  belfry.  On 
May  4,  1830,  a brick  jail  was  authorized 
which  was  let  to  Joseph  M.  Skinner  and 
Daniel  Grosvenor  for  $700  and  $300  of 
it  paid  in  advance.  This  jail  took  the  place 
of  the  log  one  in  the  rear  of  the  brick  resi- 
dence of  the  sheriff  on  lot  42,  opposite  the 
present  sheriff’s  residence.  The  completed 
work  was  accepted  by  the  Commissioners 
on  Nov.  16,  1830,  paying  Skinner  and 
Grosvenor  the  sum  of  $800,  the  extra  $100 
being  for  “raising  the  kitchen”  and  other 
extra  work.  At  the  same  time,  an  addi- 
tion of  one  room  was  authorized  for  the 
sheriff’s  house.  On  December  6,  1831, 
“The  Commissioners  took  into  considera- 
tion the  bar  in  the  court  house  and  the 
necessity  of  a public  necessary  near  the 
court  house  and  are  of  the  opinion  that 
the  first  ought  to  be  altered  and  enlarged 
and  the  last  ought  to  be  built  for  public 
use,  the  building  to  be  16  feet  by  8 when 
walled  with  stone,  that  the  auditor  give  no- 
tice for  three  weeks  of  the  letting,  the 
job  to  be  let  separately.” 

Vol.  3,  page  246,  December  31,  1831 


“Commissioners  met  pursuant  to  notice 
given  in  Troy  Times”  that  a certain  build- 
ing and  altering  of  the  bar  in  the  Court 
house  would  be  let.  The  Commissioners 
decided  a building  of  a necessary  near  the 
court  house  but  let  out  the  removing  of 
the  bar  in  the  court  house  and  David  W. 
Wallace  undertook  the  job,  the  work  to  be 
done  by  the  next  meeting  of  the  Commis- 
sioners for  which  he  is  to  receive  $25.”  On 
March  8,  1832,  Mr.  Wallace  received  his 
pay  for  this  work. 

On  June  6,  1832,  sundry  repairs  were 
authorized  to  be  made  in  the  jailer’s  house. 
On  April  14,  1832,  the  Commissioners  met 
and  went  to  look  at  the  poor  farm  to  be 
purchased  for  the  purpose  to  build  a poor 
house  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  county. 
On  December  5,  1832,  Commissioners  met 
to  close  a contract  for  the  purchase  of  the 
farm  from  William  Cummings  for  use  as 
a poor  house. 

Vol.  3,  page  273,  April  30,  1833,  the 
Commissioners  contracted  with  James 
Brown  for  his  farm  in  Concord  township 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a poor 
house  for  the  use  of  the  county  poor,  and 
James  Brown  entered  into  a bond  to  make 
a title  for  the  said  farm.  On  the  same 
date,  the  Commissioners  ordered  the  roof 
of  the  cupola  on  the  court  house  painted 
and  the  ball  and  vane  on  the  cupola  gilded 

On  May  11,  1833,  James  Brown  made 
deed  for  his  farm  to  the  county  for  poor 
house  purposes  and  was  allowed  posses- 
sion of  the  same  until  December  1,  1833. 
The  farm  was  located  a few  miles  north  of 
Troy  but  the  record  does  not  locate  it  ex- 
actly. The  further  records  will  show  that 
this  farm  was  never  used  for  the  purpose 
of  its  purchase. 

Vol.  4,  page  5,  June  4,  1834,  the  Com- 
missioners ordered  that  a notice  be  pub- 
lished in  the  Troy,  Ohio,  Times  and  The 
Piqua  Gazette  for  the  purpose  of  organiz- 
ing an  agricultural  society  entitled  The 
Miami  County  Agricultural  society,  the 
meeting  to  be  held  in  the  court  house  on 
the  last  Friday  of  June  for  the  said  pur- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


343 


pose.  The  Commissioners  appropriated 
$25  for  the  benefit  of  the  county. 

Vol,  4,  page  25,  June  2,  1835,  lot  No.  60 
was  released  from  taxation  because  said 
lot  is  now  “occupied  by  a meeting  house,” 
the  Baptist  church. 

On  July  15,  1836,  the  Commissioners 
purchased  the  undivided  half  of  120  acres 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  18  in 
Staunton  township  for  a poor  house  farm. 
This  placed  them  in  the  ownership  of  two 
farms,  purchased  for  the  same  purpose, 
the  James  Brown  52  acres  in  section  17  of 
Concord  and  the  60  acres  as  above.  On 
February  15,  1837,  they  offered  the  Con- 
cord township  farm  for  sale  but  had  no 
bidders  and  then  rented  it  for  one  year. 
The  Staunton  township  farm  cost  $800. 
It  was  twenty  years  afterward  or  in  1856, 
that  the  court  ordered  the  sheriff,  S.  E. 
Hustler,  to  sell  the  other  half  of  the  120 
acres  in  section  18  under  a petition  for 
partition  and  then  the  county  purchased 
and  owned  the  full  120  acres  of  the  pres- 
ent 132  acres  infirmary  farm.  On  Feb.  4, 
1854,  they  had  acquired  10  acres  in  the 
west  part  of  section  18  and  another  acre 
afterward  from  the  cemetery  tract,  the 
other  acre  is  probably  accounted  for  in  a 
surplus  under  survey. 

I am  aware  that  I will  be  criticised  for 
the  closeness  of  my  detail  in  some  of  these 
early  transactions  but  with  a good  index 
for  this  history  it  will  become  the  ready 
reference  book  for  all  students  in  the  fu- 
ture, a desideratum  heretofore  almost 
totally  ignored  and  yet  very  much  to  be 
desired. 

On  September  29,  1837,  the  Commis- 
sioners advertised  for  bids  for  a poor 
house  to  be  built  of  brick  on  plans  to  be 
exhibited.  In  this  year,  Jacob  Knoop  be- 
came the  auditor  of  Miami  county,  and 
there  is  a marked  improvement  in  the 
method  of  keeping  the  records.  On  De- 
cember 5,  1837,  the  poor  house  farm  was 
rented  to  a man  named  Isenbice  for  the 
sum  of  $40. 

On  June  6,  1838,  the  sum  of  35  was  ap- 


propriated to  the  Miami  County  Agricul- 
tural society  provided  it  should  be  success- 
fully inaugurated.  On  this  date,  William 
and  $89.20  stone  furnished  for  the  new 
Johnston  was  paid  $246.95  for  material 
poor  house. 

Troy,  January  8,  1839. 

“Resolved,  That  they  will  act  definitely 
at  the  annual  meeting  to  be  holden  on  the 
first  Monday  of  March  next,  with  regard 
to  the  erection  of  fire  proof  offices  and  re- 
serve to  themsleves  the  right  of  contract- 
ing a court  house  within  the  same  walls.” 

Thus,  commencing  the  first  court  house 
in  1815;  moving  into  the  same  in  1825; 
fourteen  years  afterward,  they  propose  to 
build  another  and  no  doubt  with  good 
reason  in  the  fact  that  the  county  at  this 
time  had  arrived  at  a population  of  20,000 
souls ; the  records  had  become  of  inestima- 
ble value  and  were  subject  to  destruction 
by  fire,  the  result  of  which  would  be  a far 
reaching  disaster,  almost  impossible  to 
repair,  and  thus  our  forbears,  with  a full 
realization  of  their  responsibility  to  pos- 
terity, resolved  to  provide  proper  safe- 
guards for  the  future  greatness  of  the 
county. 

On  June  5,  1839,  a levy  of  5 cents  on  the 
100  for  the  support  of  idiots  and  lunatics, 
also  five  cents  on  100  for  defraying  the  ex- 
penses of  building  a house  on  the  poor 
farm  and  20  cents  for  school  purposes.  At 
this  meeting,  William  Johnston  was  al- 
lowed the  further  sum  of  $265  for  work 
on  the  poor  house.  The  following  action 
was  also  taken.  “The  Commissioners  al- 
low to  Samuel  Pierce  and  Jacob  Knoop 
each  the  sum  of  $5  for  their  services  and 
expenses  in  a trip  to  Urbana  to  see  and  get 
a draft  of  the  new  court  house  in  Urbana, 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  for  the  use  of 
the  Commissioners  of  Miami  county.” 

“The  Commissioners  then  had  the  build- 
ing of  a new  court  house  in  the  town  of 
Troy  under  consideration  and  it  was  after 
mutual  deliberation,  Resolved  that  the 
Commissioners  of  Miami  county  will  build 
a new  court  house  in  the  town  of  Troy  and 


344 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


that  the  building  of  said  court  house  be 
put  under  contract  as  soon  as  practicable.” 

On  June  30,  the  Commissioners  of  Mi- 
ami county  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment, 
present  Samuel  Pierce,  Richard  Morrow 
and  James  Fergus,  Commissioners,  and 
Jacob  Knoop,  clerk.  The  Board  having 
met  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the 
manner  the  new  court  house  for  Miami 
county  is  to  be  let  or  in  what  manner  the 
same  it  to  be  built,  upon  due  consideration 
the  Commissioners  “Resolved,  that  the 
building  of  the  new  court  house  be  sold  or 
let  to  the  lowest  and  best  responsible  bid- 
der he  furnishing  all  material  necessary 
for  said  new  court  house”  and  thereupon  it 
was  ordered  that  public  notice  be  given 
for  three  months  in  the  Troy  Times,  Cin- 
cinnati Gazette  (weekly)  Western  Courier 
(weekly)  Cincinnati  Enquirer  (weekly) 
Ohio  State  Journal  (Weekly)  and  Cleve- 
land Herald  (weekly)  that  sealed  pro- 
posals will  be  received  until  the  first  daj 
of  October  next  for  the  erection  of  a court 
house  in  the  town  of  Troy,  Miami  county, 
Ohio.  On  August  24,  1839,  Vol.  4,  page 
133,  the  Commissioners  received  and 
adopted  the  several  plans  on  file  in  the 
auditor’s  office  for  a new  court  house 
marked  A,  B,  C,  and  D to-wit : 

A — The  Ground  Plan 

B — The  Front  Plan 

C— The  Side  Plan 

D — The  Court  or  Second  Story  Plan, 
and  requested  the  auditor  of  Miami  county 
to  make  or  cause  to  be  made  a set  of  speci- 
fications for  said  building.  On  August  24, 
1839,  the  Commissioners  made  a further 
donation  of  $35  to  the  Miami  County  Ag- 
ricultural society  on  condition  that  said 
society  shall  be  organized  and  carried  into 
successful  operation. 

On  October  1,  1839,  page  134,  Vol.  4, 
the  Commissioners  opened  the  bids  for  the 
construction  of  the  new  court  house,  re- 
jecting all  but  three  and  reserved  the  bids 
of  A.  E.  Turnbull  for  $8,903,  A.  M.  Skinner 


for  $9,300,  and  William  B.  Johnston  for 
$7,934. 

On  October  17,  1839,  they  consulted  on 
the  above  bids.  On  the  18th  they  allowed 
R.  C.  Langdon  for  publishing  advertise- 
ment for  new  court  house  and  agreed  to 
let  the  building  of  a new  court  house  to 
A.  E.  Turnbull,  of  Delaware,  “for  the  rea- 
son that  his  was  considered  the  best  and 
most  acceptable  bid”  and  the  Commission- 
ers requested  the  auditor  to  inform  him  of 
their  conclusion  and  request  an  answer. 

December  3,  1839,  Joseph  DeFrees  and 
other  citizens  of  Piqua  petitioned  the  Com- 
missioners to  remit  the  fines  against  Isaac 
Hall  for  suffering  gaming  in  his  grocery 
and  for  retailing  liquor.  At  their  meeting 
the  next  day  they  agreed  to  remit  one-half 
of  these  fines. 

On  December  5,  1839,  the  Commission- 
ers charged  Benjamin  Dye,  the  sum  of  $27 
for  a permit  to  do  a merchandising  busi- 
ness with  an  investment  of  $2,700. 

On  January  22,  1840,  the  Commission- 
ers examined  the  accounts  of  William  B. 
Johnson  for  the  building  of  the  poor  house 
and  on  January  24th,  appointed  Joseph  R. 
John,  Joseph  Culbertson  and  Joseph  M. 
Skinner  the  first  directors  of  the  poor 
house  for  the  term  of  one  year  and  until 
their  successors  are  appointed  and  quali- 
fied. 

On  February  5,  1840,  the  Commission- 
ers “met  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  and 
making  further  arrangements  with  A.  E. 
Turnbull  for  building  of  a new  court  house 
in  the  town  of  Troy,  Miami  county,  Ohio. 
“The  Commissioners  examined  the  several 
places  offered  as  donations  for  to  erect  the 
said  court  house  upon,  to-wit:  the  dona- 
tion offered  by  H.  G.  Philips  and  also  a 
donation  offered  by  Joseph  H.  Johns,  Asa 
Coleman  and  others  and  have  the  same  un- 
der consideration. 

Vol.  4,  page  150,  February  8,  1840 : 

“This  agreement  between  Richard  Mor- 
row, James  Fergus  and  Michael  Williams, 
Commissioners  of  the  County  of  Miami 
and  State  of  Ohio  and  Andrew  E.  Turn- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


345 


bull,  witnesseth  that  the  specifications 
hereunto  annexed  marked  (C)  and  t) 
others  marked  A,  B,  D,  therewith  accom- 
panying and  every  clause  thereof,  is  made 
a part  of  this  agreement  and  the  said  An- 
drew E.  Turnbull  hereby  agrees  on  or  be- 
fore the  first  day  of  January  in  the  year 
1842  at  Troy,  in  the  County  of  Miami 
aforesaid  at  his  own  proper  expense  to 
furnish  all  the  materials  necessary  and 
proper  for,  and  to  do,  perform,  finish  and 
complete  in  the  manner  herein  stated,  all 
the  work  set  forth  and  referred  to  in  the 
said  specifications  and  plates. 

In  consideration  whereof,  the  said  Com- 
missioners agree  to  pay  to  the  said  An- 
drew E.  Turnbull  for  said  materials  and 
work  in  said  specifications  and  plans  re- 
ferred to  or  mentioned  the  sum  of 
($13,500)  thirteen  thousand  and  five  hun- 
dred dollars  as  follows,  to-wit : on  the  20th 
day  of  May  next,  two  thousand  dollars  and 
the  balance  of  said  sum  as  fast  as  the  said 
work  progresses  and  materials  are  fur- 
nished and  delivered.”  This  record  is 
sighed  by  the  three  Commissioners. 

The  specifications  above  referred  to  and 
marked  (C)  are  in  words  and  figures  fol- 
lowing, to-wit: 

Troy,  Ohio,  Feb.  8,  1840. 
Specifications  for  building  a Court  House 

in  Troy,  Miami  County,  Ohio. 

This  building  to  be  50  x 80  feet  on  the 
ground;  the  foundation  wall  to  be  6 feet 
high,  2 feet  5 inches  thick.  Partition  walls 
as  per  plan  marked  (A)  two  feet  thick  and 
six  feet  high.  Foundation  to  be  filled  with 
earth  level  with  the  water  table  and  the 
floor  paved  with  brick.  The  walls  to  be  of 
good  stone  laid  in  lime  mortar.  All  the 
partition  walls  in  said  plan  above  the 
water  table  to  be  made  of  brick,  13  inches 
thick.  All  the  fire  proof  rooms  six  in  num- 
ber to  have  stone  jambs  and  caps  with  iron 
doors.  The  three  doors  facing  the  hall  to 
have  wooden  doors  in  addition  to  the  iron 
and  which  are  to  be  made  of  pine,  one  and 
three-fourths  inches  thick ; to  be  hung 


with  4x4  inch  square  butts  with  zigzag 
holes  with  suitable  locks  and  fastenings; 
said  door  to  be  cased  with  architraves  and 
band  mouldings.  The  base  in  said  rooms 
and  through  the  whole  building  to  be  ten 
inches  high.,  All  the  window  frames  in 
the  first  story  to  be  made  of  pine,  walnut 
or  poplar  and  to  contain  twelve  lights  of 
14  x 20  glass  the  sash  to  be  made  of  pine 
and  seven-eights  inches  thick.  Windows  to 
be  cased  with  jambs  and  architraves  same 
as  doors.  The  three  fire  proof  book  safes 
to  be  made  with  groin  arched  ceiling. 
The  three  fire  proof  rooms  to  have  ceiling 
joice  3 x 15  inches,  8 inches  apart  with  a 
rough  floor  covered  with  sand  twelve 
inches  thick.  The  front  stairs  to  be  built 
either  of  plank  or  timber  as  Commission- 
ers may  direct  with  hand  rails  and  ballis- 
ters. The  back  stairs  to  be  made  of  plank 
with  hand  rails  and  ballisters.  The  three 
doors  leading  from  the  hall  into  the  rooms 
which  are  not  fire  proof  to  be  made  of 
pine,  one  and  three-fourths  inches  thick, 
to  be  panel  doors.  The  front  and  back 
doors  to  be  made  as  per  plan.  Front  door 
two  and  a half,  and  rear  panel  two  inches 
thick  (with  suitable  locks  and  fastenings) 
of  white  pine. 

The  floor  joists  in  the  second  story  to 
be  3x16  inches  of  oak  or  ash,  placed  not 
more  than  twelve  inches  apart.  The  floor- 
ing to  be  laid  of  pine,  ash  or  oak.  All  the 
windows  in  the  second  story  to  contain 
fifteen  lights,  14x20  inch  glass.  Sash  to 
be  one  and  seven-eighths  inches  thick, 
made  of  pine.  The  window  frames  to  be 
made  of  pine,  walnut  or  poplar  cased  with 
jamb  casings  and  pilasters.  The  parti- 
tions to  be  located  as  per  plan  marked 
(D.).  The  doors  on  the  second  floor  to 
be  panel  and  to  be  made  one  and  three- 
fourths  inches  thick  of  pine  cased  with 
jambs  and  pilasters  hung  with  4x4  inch 
butts  and  suitable  fastenings.  The  finish 
of  the  Court  Room  as  per  plan  D.  The 
ceiling  of  the  second  floor  to  be  arched  in 
such  a manner  as  the  Commissioners  may 
direct.  The  outside  walls  of  the  whole 


346 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 

& 


buildings  above  the  water  table  to  be  of 
brick  and  to  be  twenty-two  inches  thick 
and  thirty-eight  feet  high.  The  front  of 
the  building  to  be  finished  so  as  to  corre- 
spond in  every  particular  with  the  plan 
marked  B.  The  roof  of  the  building  to  be 
framed  with  King  and  Queen  posts,  (the 
principal  rafters  not  to  be  over  ten  feet 
apart)  and  covered  with  tin. 

All  the  outside  doors  and  windows  to 
have  cut  stone  caps  and  sills. 

Cut  stone  water  table  to  continue  round 
the  whole  building.  Five  cut  stone  steps 
in  front  of  twelve-inch  tread.  Cut  stone 
caps  and  bases  to  £he  Antics  and  cut 
stone  bases  to  the  columns.  Columns  and 
antics  to  be  plastered  with  hydraulic  ce- 
ment. Caps  of  the  columns  to  be  made  of 
wood  to  correspond  with  plan  marked  B. 
All  the  wood  work  (except  the  floor)  to 
be  painted  with  three  coats  of  paint.  The 
inside  of  the  whole  building  to  be  painted 
with  three-coat  work.  There  are  to  be 
six  flues  in  the  walls  with  chimneys  car- 
ried up  four  feet  by  two  feet  and  seven 
feet  high.  The  cupola  to  be  finished  on 
four  sides  as  front  view  of  Plate  (B)  and 
covered  with  tin.  The  Commissioners  or 
their  agent  shall  have  the  power  and  the 
privilege  of  enlarging,  diminishing,  alter- 
ing or  changing  in  any  way  they  may  wish 
any  of  the  work  plans  or  materials  herein 
mentioned  or  referred  to.  And  for  any 
additions  or  subtractions  shall  add  or  de- 
duct to  or  from  the  agreed  price  of  the 
whole  in  proportion. 

All  the  materials  herein  mentioned  or 
referred  to  to  be  of  a good  quality  suit- 
able to  the  character  and  quality  of  the 
work  and  all  the  work  to  be  done  and  exe- 
cuted in  a workmanlike  manner. 

The  Commissioners  may  reject  any  of 
the  materials  in  any  stage  of  the  work, 
and  if  said  rejected  materials  are  after- 
ward put  into  said  work  they  shall  be  re- 
leased from  any  obligation  to  pay  further 
and  may  completely  annul  and  set  aside 
the  contract  of  which  this  is  a part. 

These  specifications  are  to  be  so  con- 


strued that  if  any  omissions  are  made  of 
materials  or  work  necessary  or  proper  to 
carry  out  the  designs  and  plan  of  the 
building  adopted  by  the  Commissioners, 
the  same  are  to  be  furnished  and  executed 
by  the  said  Andrew  E.  Turnbull  at  his  own 
proper  expense. 

(Signed) 

A.  E.  TURNBULL. 
RICHARD  MORROW, 
MICHAEL  WILLIAMS, 

Commissioners. 

Troy,  Ohio,  February  8,  1840. 

The  plans  A,  B,  C,  and  D are  deposited 
in  the  Auditor’s  office  of  Miami  County. 
And  thereupon  the  Commissioners  ad- 
journed. 

J.  KNOOP, 

Clerk  of  Commissioners. 

On  November  20,  1840,  “At  the  sugges- 
tion of  several  citizens  the  Commissioners 
agree  to  have  crowned  glass  instead  of  the 
common  cylinder  glass,  put  in  the  win- 
dows of  the  new  Court  House  in  Troy,  and 
order  the  auditor  to  pay  Mr.  Turnbull 
the  difference.” 

It  was  in  1840  that  the  Board  of  Equali- 
zation came  into  existence  and  the  record 
is  full  of  appeals  from  assessments  re- 
garded too  high  by  the  owners,  with  which 
the  Board  sometimes  decrease  and  some- 
times increase  the  assessments.  In  very 
many  cases,  the  assessment  on  land  dur- 
ing this  period  at  $4.00  per  acre  was  re- 
duced by  the  Board  to  $3.50  and  $3.00  per 
acre.  This  was  also  a period  of  petitions 
for  new  roads  and  the  appointment  and 
report  of  viewers. 

On  March  5,  1841,  Vol.  4,  page  202,  may 
be  found  the  first  report  of  the  Directors 
of  the  poor  house,  which  shows  19  occu- 
pants taken  care  of  in  all  a period  of  nine 
months.  The  report  sets  forth  the  condi- 
tion of  each  of  the  inmates,  some  of  which 
are  rather  amusing.  “Ezra  Snow,  aged 
61,  is  ‘always  complaining.’  Polly  Beedle, 
aged  26,  ‘fits  and  sickness.’  Mrs.  Spicer, 
aged  83,  ‘sick  of  the  times.’  Sally  An- 


DENNIS  COSLEY 

The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  on  June  20.  1816.  At  15  years 
of  age,  he  went  to  the  village  of  Bridgeport,  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  an  apprentice  in  a 
woolen  factory  finishing  same  in  1839.  In  1840,  he  contracted  with  George  Seibert  of  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land, to  conduct  his  woolen  factory  in  which  capacity  he  served  but  one  year,  when  he  engaged  in  school 
teaching  for  a period  of  four  years,  with  35  or  40  scholars,  being  a subscription  schcol.  There  were  no 
free  schools  in  Maryland  at  that  time.  He  moved  to  Fayetteville,  Pennsylvania,  in  1845,  and  made  coverlets 
of  an  excellent  design  and  quality  as  is  evidenced  by  one  now  in  the  possession  of  his  sen,  Edwin  M.  The 
factory  in  which  he  had  invested  his  entire  savings  burned  down,  leaving  him  with  some  stock  of  ready  sale. 
In  1846,  he  moved  to  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he  again  engaged  in  the  business  of  manufacturing 
coverlets,  which  he  continued  in  until  1864  with  success,  when  he  moved  to  the  woolen  mill  on  Pleasant  Run, 
five  miles  southeast  of  Troy.  This  was  the  Studebaker  mill  of  long  standing  which  had  manufactured  the 
wool  clip  of  all  that  section  for  many  years,  into  rolls  for  the  big  wheel  at  heme  to  spin  into  yarn.  This 
factory  burned  down  in  1865  and  he  moved  to  Troy  in  1867  and  engaged  in  the  sale  of  woolen  goods  for 
several  years  when  he  retired.  He  was  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a Mason  and  a devout  and  consistent  member  of 
the  First  Methodist  church  in  Troy  to  which  church  he  had  in  early  life,  given  his  allegiance  and  from  strict 
adherence  thereto  he  had  never  deviated.  He  died  January  8,  1904,  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery. 
He  was  married  at  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  on  January  2,  1840,  to  Margaret  Cromer,  from  which  union  seven 
children  were  born  : George,  September.  1840  ; Dennis  W.,  June  24,  1842  ; Caroline  M..  November  13.  1843  ; 
Jeremiah  E.,  March  5,  1845  ; Mary  E.,  March  22,  1848  ; Harvey  A.,  January  24,  1850  ; Margaret  A.,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1851.  On  April  20,  1852,  Margaret  Cromer  Cosley  died  and  was  buried  in  Xenia  Ohio. 

On  June  16,  1858,  Mr.  Cosley  united  in  marriage  with  Catharine  Landis,  of  Highland  county,  Ohio,  from 
which  union  five  children  were  born  : Edith  E.,  August  20,  1862  ; Minnie  L.,  January  9,  1864  ; Adelaide, 
November  26,  1865  ; Edwin  M.,  March  4,  1869  ; Clara  V.,  January  23,  1875.  Catherine  Landis  Cosley  died 
on  November  4,  1917  and  is  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  Troy.  I am  indebted  to  Edwin  M.  Cosley,  the 
second  youngest  of  the  family  for  the  dates  in  the  above  sketch. 

HARVEY  A.  COSLEY 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  sixth  child  of  Dennis  Cosley,  was  born  January  24,  1850.  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Xenia  and  Troy,  Ohio,  and  entered  the  iron  store  of  Hart  & Harter,  Troy.  Ohio.  Soon 
after  leaving  school,  which,  after  the  death  of  both  proprietors,  became  his,  and  is  yet  being  conducted 
under  the  name  of  H.  A.  Cosley,  occupying  the  entire  ground  floor  of  the  Masonic  building  with  one  of  the 
most  complete  stocks  of  its  kind  in  the  Miami  Valley. 

On  August  29th,  1874,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Ellen  Weddell,  who  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
April  18,  1852,  from  which  union,  seven  children  have  been  born  : Anna  Margaret,  January  24.  1876  ; Harry 
Harter,  December  27,  1877  ; John  Weddell,  July  31,  1880  ; George  Weaver,  August  12,  1885  : Helen  Suzanne, 
March  8,  1889  ; Robert  Pritchard,  April  22,  1891  ; and  Martha  Katherine,  May  29,  1894.  Mr.  Cosley  is  a 
Knight  Templar  and  a member  of  the  Troy  club.  He  and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  the  music  for  which  was  managed  for  many  years  by  Mr.  Cosley  and  who  for  some  years  was 
superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school.  Few  men  in  Miami  county  have  rendered  as  much  gratuitous  services 
with  his  great  musical  ability  in  church,  social  and  patriotic  gatherings.  Many  a weeping  heart  has  been 
lightened  by  his  voice  in  song,  over  the  body  of  departed  dear  ones. 


THE  HOME  OF  CHARLES  CLARENCE  HOBART,  316  WEST  FRANKLIN  STREET 

Mr.  F.  M.  Sterrett,  Troy,  Ohio. 

Dear  Mr.  Sterrett: — I have  tilled  out,  and  return  herewith  my  history.  I am  told  that  the  side  of  Mount 
Mansfield,  the  highest  peak  of  the  green  mountain  range,  broke  from  its  rocky  base,  and  slid  down  with  a 
crash  the  day  I was  born.  There  were  other  remarkable  disturbances.  Unfortunately  at  that  time  records 
were  not  kept.  The  memory  of  people  differ.  I have  never  known  definitely  when  I was  born.  I am  sure 
I am  past  50.  I think  1 am  less  than  100.  Considering  the  uneventful  life  of  this  character,  the  two  mile 
posts  are  sufficiently  illuminating. 

In  relation  to  the  picture  of  the  house,  I have  none.  I would  not  care  especially  to  be  remembered  by 
the  house  I lived  in.  If  you  think,  however,  that  another  picture  in  your  book  will  add  to  it,  I will  get  a 
photo. 

If  you  want  to  say  anything  good  about  me,  you  might  say  that  so  long  as  the  Republican  Party  stood 
for  splendid  principles,  i was  a Republican.  When  the  party  stopped  standing  for  anything  in  particular, 
I found  delightful  company  among  Progressives.  Some  are  finding  something  congenial  among  the  Demo- 
crats, and  some  among  the  Socialists.  At  the  present  time  I am  part  Republican,  part  Democrat,  and  part 
Socialist. 

I wish  the  war  had  never  occurred.  The  thought  of  the  awful  suffering  and  loss  of  life  is  too  much  even 
to  contemplate.  Above  everything,  however,  is  my  desire  to  see  the  nation,  that  wants  to  live  by  plundering, 
and  that  is  indifferent  to  suffering,  crushed. 

Another  strong  desire  with  me  is  to  see  men  out  from  under  the  bainful  influence  of  liquor. 

Still  another  desire  with  me  is  to  see  that  all  the  people  have  equal  rights  and  equal  use  of  the  land  and 
of  all  things,  that  the  Maker  of  the  universe  intended  for  all,  and  not  for  a select  few. 

Still  another  desire  with  me  is  that  the  nations  as  well  as  the  individuals  shall  recognize  fully  their 
obligations  to  each  other,  and  shall  strive  not  for  selfish  ends,  but  to  do  justice. 

Then  i have  also  a desire  that  every  man,  woman  and  child  should  know  what  a good  thing  it  is  to  have 
the  affection  of  a good  dog. 

Possibly  in  some  of  the  above  mentioned  mental  attitudes,  you  may  And  the  basis  of  a comment  like  this: 
“While  in  the  community,  he  represented  the  man  with  a hoe,  occasionally  the  clouds  seemed  to  lift  from 
his  mind,  and  the  spots  revealed  a faint  power  to  distinguish  between  right  and  wrong.” 

Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  C.  C.  HOBART. 

The  Hobart  Manufacturing  company,  of  Troy,  owes  its  origin  to  C.  C.  Hobart,  who  continues  one  of  our 
principal  Troy  manufacturers.  He  was  a candidate  for  Congress  on  the  Progressive  ticket  in  1912,  and  has 
served  Troy  efficiently  on  the  public  service  board.  No  dog  goes  hungry  in  Troy  if  Mr.  Hobart  knows  of 
it.  Sheriff  Barnett  said  to  him  a few  days  ago,  “Hobart,  that  d-  n dog  should  be  shot  under  the  statutes 
since  no  tax  is  paid  on  him,  but  since  I notice  you  buy  meat  for  him  and  feed  him,  I hesitate  to  execute  the 
law.”  Mr.  Hobart  replied,  “I  do  not  own  the  dog,  Barnett  and  am  n^f.  therefore,  entitled  to  pay  his  tax 
but  see  me  before  you  shoot.”  Mr.  Hobart  is  a member  of  the  First  Baptist  church. 


THE  HOME  OF  JOHN  A.  MeCURDY,  304  WEST  MAIN  STREET.  TROY,  OHIO 


“I  regard  the  fulsome  eulogy  in  many  biographical  sketches  as  being  born  frequently  in  egotism  and  I 
warn  you  to  go  light  on  this  every  day  Irishman,”  was  the  way  I was  admonished  by  my  good  friend  and 
comrade  and  i write  it  down  because  it  is  extremely  characteristic  of  him.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  in 
Staunton  township.  Miami  county  Ohio,  on  March  26,  1841,  and  lived  with  his  father  and  mother,  James 
and  Mary  Ann  McDonald  McCurdy,  until  yourg  manhood.  He  was  educated  in  the  Troy  High  School  and 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  194th  O.  V.  I.  in  February,  1865,  served  for  awhile  in  West  Virginia  and  on 
account  og  Lee’s  surrender  was  ordered  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  the  regiment  served  on  guard  duty 
until  October  24,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out.  Mr.  McCurdy  was  present  at  the  trial  of  Wirz,  before 
President  of  the  Court  Lew  Wallace,  whose  grandfather,  Andrew  Wallace,  plotted  Troy  and  was  the  first 
treasurer  of  Miami  county.  Wirz  was  found  guilty  of  the  charge  of  murdering  Union  soldiers  at  the  An- 
derson ville  prison  in  Georgia,  and  in  the  opinion  of  every  man  from  the  North,  who  was  compelled  to  live 
in  the  foul  place,  was  guilty  many  times  over  and  richly  deserved  his  fate. 

Mr.  McCurdy  was  married  to  Sarah  M.  Scott,  of  Elisabeth  township,  in  October  of  1874,  and  after  her 
demise  and  burial  in  Riverside  cemetery,  married  her  sister,  Margaret  S.  Scott,  in  October,  1879,  who  also 
departed  this  life  in  1917  and  is  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  He  is  a member  of  the  Troy  Odd  Fellows 
and  Junior  Order  lodges  and  of  Post  159.  Department  of  Ohio,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  ha$ 
served  as  Commander  of  the  latter.  His  lays  are  taken  up  in  looking  after  his  farm  of  400  acres  in 
Elisabeth  township,  which  he  keeps  up  and  conducts  on  scientific  principles.  He  served  Miami  county  in  the 
State  Legislature  for  four  years  and  four  years  as  treasurer  of  Miami  coun'y.  He  is  a man  of  strong 
convictions  in  whom  every  worthy  citizen  of  Miami  county  has  the  fullest  confidence  in  his  integrity. 

“Here  is  a sigh  for  those  who  love  me. 

And  a smile  for  those  who  hate. 

And  whatever  skies  are  above  me, 

Here’s  a heart  for  any  fate.” 

— Byron  to  Tom  Moore. 


THE  HOME  OF  WILLIAM  E.  LYTLE  ON  HIS  FERTILE  AND  BEAUTIFUL  FARM 

ONE  MILE  NORTH  OF  TROY 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  a log  cabin,  near  Lancaster,  Ohio,  on  July  15,  1871,  and  lived 
with  his  father  and  mother,  William  H.  Lytle  and  Margaret  Bretz,  attending  the  common  schools,  until 
his  adminission  into  the  Ohio  Northern  University  in  1890,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1900 
and  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law,  having  had  tuition  under  Judge  Alread  of  Greenville,  Ohio.  He 
became  a resident  of  Tippecanoe  City,  Miami  County,  in  1901  and  served  as  city  solicitor  of  that  place 
between  1906-10.  He  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Miami  County  in  1910-11,  which  office  he  ad- 
ministered with  signal  ability  under  the  most  trying  conditions.  Miami  County  had  voted  dry  and  it 
became  the  duty  of  Mr.  Lytle  to  enforce  the  law,  under  such  violent  and  brutal  opposition  that  he  was 
waylaid  and  beaten  on  his  road  from  church.  He  continued  to  coruageously  perform  his  duty  and  largely 
broke  up  illicit  selling  and  turned  more  than  $1800  in  fines  in  the  county  treasury.  If  the  true  story 
of  those  two  years  were  written,  it  would  appal  many  good  people  of  the  county  and  raise  Mr.  Lytle  in 
even  a much  higher  estimation  than  he  is  now  held  and  it  would  shame  many,  who  would  be  held  high  for 
their  lack  of  fidelity  to  a cause  which  they  pretended  to  support.  It  was  the  law  and  Mr.  Lytle,  under 
•his  oath  had  to  execute  it  and  should  have  been  loyally,  supported  by  those  who  voted  for  it  and 
created  it. 

Mr.  Lytle  and  family  are  members  of  the  first  Methodist  Churrh  of  Troy.  He  has  been  for  25  years 
a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  takes  great  pride  in  his  farm  where  he  raised  last  year,  75 
bushels  of  corn  and  40  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre,  and  in  the  meantime  has  his  share  of  law  practice. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


351 


thony,  aged  83,  ‘insane,’  and  several  set 
down  ‘fever  and  ague.’  The  furniture 
and  bedding  for  the  year  had  cost  $544.30. 
The  following  entry  is  found : 

“Expenses  of  paupers,  including  labor 
for  improvements  on  farm  and  labor  im- 
provements in  house  and  Superintendent’s 
fees,  $952.27.  The  total  expenses  for  first 
year,  $1870.59. 

(Signed) 

JOSEPH  CULBERTSON, 
JOSEPH  R.  JOHN, 

JOSEPH  M.  SKINNER, 
Directors. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  the  same 
Directors  for  the  ensuing  year.  These 
Directors  received  $1.50  per  day  for  serv- 
ices and  their  wages  for  the  preceding 
year  at  that  rate  entitled  and  they  were 
paid  in  the  order  named,  $7.50,  $9.00  and 
$9.00. 

Troy,  Ohio,  June  10,  1841. 

“The  Commissioners  this  day  settled 
with  William  Brown,  Treasurer  of  Miami 
County  and  found  him  properly  charged 
with  the  sum  of  $14,706.06,  and  find  him 
credited  with  the  sum  of  five  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  forty-eight  dollars  and 
twenty  cents,  and  further  that  said  treas- 
urer has  redeemed  County  orders  to  the 
amount  of  $8,031,  having  a balance  in  the 
treasury  of  one  thousand  and  eighteen  dol- 
lars and  ninety  cents.” 

Troy,  Ohio,  July  5,  A.  D.,  1841. 

“The  Commissioners  of  Miami  County 
met  this  day,  present,  James  Fergus,  Mi- 
chael Williams  and  Richard  Morrow,  and 
Jacob  Knoop,  Auditor  and  Clerk  to  Com- 
missioners. The  aforesaid  County  Com- 
missioners met  this  day  for  the  purpose 
of  making  settlement  with  A.  E.  Turnbull 
for  the  building  of  the  new  Court  House 
in  Troy,  which  was  this  day  received  of 
said  A.  E.  Turnbull  as  fully  answering  the 
requisitions  of  the  contract  and  specifica- 
tions and  find  and  allow  the  following  ac- 
count not  specified  in  the  contract,  to-wit : 


To  difference  in  glass  as  per 

agreement  $ 101  20 

To  iron  window  shutters  for 

vault 35  57 

To  cornices  around  Court  Room  150  00 

To  uncurrent  money  returned 

by  Turnbull 115  00 

Court  House  13,500  00 


Total $13,901  77 

On  July  6,  1841,  a fence  around  the 
Court  House  was  authorized,  the  front  to 
be  of  cast  iron.  On  the  same  date,  the 
Auditor  was  instructed  to  advertise  the 
old  Court  House  for  sale. 

Assignment  of  the  Rooms 
The  Commissioners  of  Miami  County 
assigns  rooms  in  the  new  Court  House  to 
the  several  officers  as  follows,  to-wit: 

On  the  lower  floor,  the  first  room  on  the 
right-hand  side  of  the  hall,  to  the  Clerk  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  the  second 
or  middle  room  on  the  right-hand  side  of 
the  hall,  to  the  Auditor  of  Miami  County ; 
the  third  room  on  the  right-hand  side  to 
the  Recorder  of  Miami  County;  the  first 
room  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  hall  to 
the  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court;  and  the 
second  room  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the 
hall  to  the  Treasurer  of  Miami  County, 
and  the  third  room  on  the  left-hand  side 
of  the  hall  is  reserved  and  assigned  as  a 
Grand  Jury  room.  The  small  room  in  the 
north  corner  of  the  second  floor  is  as- 
signed to  the  Sheriff  of  Miami  County  as 
his  office  and  the  Commissioners  of  Miami 
County  further  order  that  the  Sheriff  of 
Miami  County  shall  take  charge  of  the 
Court  room  in  the  new  Court  House  and 
keep  the  same  in  good  order.” 

On  August  10,  1841,  the  old  Court 
House  in  the  Public  Square  was  sold  to 
George  Musinger  for  $151,  for  which  sum 
he  gave  his  note  with  Asa  Mayo  as  secur- 
ity, to  be  removed  by  January,  1842.  Mr. 
Musinger  also  bought  the  fence  around  the 
old  Court  House  for  the  sum  of  $4.00. 

At  a meeting  on  December  6,  1841,  the 


352 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Commissioners  paid  John  Clark,  of  Tippe- 
canoe for  fixing  the  canal  bridge  at  that 
place.  This  note  is  made  for  two  reasons : 
First,  John  Clark  was  the  pioneer  of  Tip- 
pecanoe, and  this  is  the  first  record  of 
canal  bridge  expense  that  I have  been  able 
to  find. 

On  December  8,  1841,  the  Commission- 
ers allowed  “Thomas  Furnas,  late  Sheriff 
of  Miami  County  the  sum  of  eighty  cents 
for  washing  blankets  and  furnishing  a tin 
pan  for  the  jail.” 

On  the  same  date  they  paid  Andrew  E. 
Turnbull  the  sum  of  $953,  balance  due  on 
the  new  Court  House  and  another  $1,000 
for  the  fence  and  other  furnishings  at  the 
Court  House. 

On  March  7,  1842,  the  Directors  of  the 
Poor  House  filed  their  second  annual  re- 
port which  showed  a total  expense  for  the 
year  of  $1,401.02,  the  number  of  paupers 
being  16  ,all  of  the  clothing  of  the  paupers 
made  at  the  Poor  House.  Same  Directors 
appointed  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  records,  at  no  place,  have  shown  as 
they  ought  to  have  done,  where  the  new 
Court  House  just  finished,  was  located, 
and  in  this  particular  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  silence  on  the  subjected  adopted 
by  the  Commissioners  who  built  the  first 
Court  House  in  the  Public  Square  and  the 
jail.  I have  heretofore  established  with 
certainty  where  these  latter  buildings  had 
stood.  Most  of  the  present  generation 
know  where  the  second  Court  House  stood, 
but  in  another  generation  few  would  re- 
member, and  there  would  actually  be  no 
official  record  of  this  location.  It  is  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  numerous  in- 
stances of  this  character  that  this  history 
is  written  together  with  the  additional 
purpose  of  correcting  hundreds  of  cases  of 
incorrectly  written  history  by  foreigners 
who  had  no  thought  of  being  serious  in 
their  compilations  outside  of  the  commer- 
cial interest.  As  heretofore  stated,  lot  42, 
at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Plum  Streets, 
opposite  the  Sheriff’s  residence,  occupied 
the  one-fourth  part  of  the  northwest  part 


of  that  block  and  had  been  originally  re- 
served for  a jail  lot  and  the  jail  and  Sher- 
iff’s residence  had  been  built  there,  and 
it  was  adjoining  these  buildings  that  the 
new  Court  House  was  built  and  continued 
as  the  place  for  holding  Court  until  the 
present  Court  House  was  built  on  the 
square  bounded  by  Main,  Plum,  Water  and 
Short  Streets.  The  foundation  for  this 
last  Court  House  was  laid  on  July  16, 
1885,  and  the  first  session  of  Court  was 
held  there  in  1889,  with  Judge  Calvin  D. 
Wright  on  the  bench  and  John  B.  Fouts, 
Clerk.  The  first  case  filed  was  Jacob  Wolf 
against  Levi  Barnett,  on  July  23,  1888,  at- 
torneys for  the  plaintiff,  Kerr  & Kerr,  of 
Tippecanoe.  The  history  which  led  up  to 
the  building  of  this  last  Court  House  will 
be  hereafter  related  more  fully  than  ever 
before. 

On  June  24,  1842,  the  Commissioners 
appointed  John  G.  Telford  in  place  of  Wil- 
liam Brown,  Treasurer-elect,  who  refused 
to  furnish  the  bond  required  by  law.  The 
Commissioners  requested  John  G.  Telford 
to  exchange  the  following  funds  in  the 
Treasury  “with  the  least  possible  loss” : 

Indiana  scrip,  $95.  State  Bank  of  Illi- 
nois, $425.  Granville  Bank,  $7.  Franklin 
Bank  of  Columbus,  $100.  Lancaster  Bank 
$19.  Shawneetown  Bank,  $90;  “for  avail- 
able funds.” 

On  October  14,  1842,  Vol.  4,  page  251, 
a final  settlement  is  again  made  with  A. 
E.  Turnbull,  in  which  we  learn  that  there 
was  a spire  and  bell  added  to  the  Court 
House. 

On  June  6,  1845,  the  Commissioners  set- 
tled with  John  G.  Telford,  County  Treas- 
urer and  found  him  to  be  properly  charged 
with  $7,716.61.2  for  County  taxes  collect- 
ed and  $2,681.04.4  as  money  from  other 
sources,  making  the  total  of  $10,314.65.6, 
and  that  he  was  credited  with  $8,415.39 
and  had  on  hand  $1,979.26.6. 

At  this  meeting,  Telford  reports  the  loss 
of  $38  on  the  Indiana  scrip  held  by  the 
County. 

“Also  examined  and  found  said  Telford 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


353 


had  received  $875.10  money  collected  for 
the  County  from  various  sources  other 
than  the  grand  levy  on  which  they  allowed 
said  Telford  5 per  cent  as  his  fees.” 

On  June  16,  1843,  the  rate  of  taxation 
was  fixed  at  4 mills  and  a half  for  County 
purposes,  and  one  and  one-half  mills  for 
road  purposes. 

On  July  1,  1843,  a bridge  across  the  ca- 
nal on  Main  Street  near  the  lock  was  pro- 
vided for.  The  period  of  1843  and  1844 
is  a road-making  and  bridge-building  pe- 
riod. On  March  5,  1844,  the  Poor  House 
Directors  made  the  fourth  annual  report 
through  A.  W.  McNabb.  There  has  been 
a change  in  the  personnel  of  the  Directors 
of  which  no  record  is  to  be  found. 

On  June  4,  1844,  the  Commissioners,  af- 
ter making  mature  deliberation  on  the  sub- 
ject, assessed  a tax  on  the  practicing  phy- 
sicians and  attorneys  of  Miami  County, 
dividing  the  income  of  each  class  into  two 
grades.  On  the  first  grade  a tax  of  $1.00 
each  and  on  the  second  grade  a tax  of  50 
cents  each.  Journal  4,  page  290. 

August  3,  1847.  The  Commissioners 
visited  the  Poor  House,  and  after  a care- 
ful examination  of  the  premises  decided 
upon  the  following  order  to-wit : 

That  an  addition  shall  be  made  under 
the  direction  of  the  Directors  of  the  Poor 
House  on  the  north  side  of  the  west  end 
of  the  present  building.  To  be  built  of 
brick  with  a stone  foundation,  one  story 
high  and  running  north  45  feet  with  a 
porch  on  the  east  side,  to  be  divided  into 
such  apartments  as  said  Poor  House  direc- 
tors may  direct,  etc.  Journal  4,  page  364. 

April  21,  1853.  The  Commissioners 
agreed  to  donate  five  hundred  dollars  to 
build  a good  bridge  across  the  Miami  at 
the  Broad  Ford,  below  Troy,  with  stone 
abutments  and  pier  in  the  center.  Journal 
5,  page  137. 

December  7,  1853.  The  Commissioners 
resolved  to  build  a new  Jail,  Probate  Judge 
office  and  house  for  jailor  and  to  com- 
mence immediately  making  the  necessary 
arrangements  to  procure  plans  and  ma- 


terials for  the  jail,  so  that  it  may  be  com- 
pleted at  as  early  a day  as  possible. 

August  13,  1851.  The  Commissioners 
of  Miami  County  met  this  day  at  the  Audi- 
tor’s office  for  the  transaction  of  business. 
Present,  Samuel  Kelly  and  Jacob  Knoop 
and  Thomas  B.  Kyle,  Clerk. 

It  being  made  to  appear  by  the  certifi- 
cate of  Joseph  Pearson,  Sheriff  of  Miami 
County,  on  file  in  the  Auditor’s  office,  that 
upon  the  written  application  oi  more  than 
twenty  citizens  of  said  County,  more  than 
thirty  days  previous  to  the  9th  day  of  Au- 
gust, A.  D.,  1851,  that  he  should  give  no- 
tice of  a vote  to  be  taken  under  the  pro- 
visions of  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Ohio,  entitled,  “An  Act  to 
authorize  the  Commissioners  of  Miami 
County  to  take  stock  in  the  “Mad  River 
and  Miami  Central  Railroad  Company” 
and  the  “Dayton  and  Michigan  Railroad 
Company”  and  that  in  accordance  with 
said  application  and  of  the  provisions  of 
said  Act,  he  had  given  notice  by  advertise- 
ment in  the  “Troy  Times”  and  “Miami  In- 
dependent,” two  newspapers  printed  and 
published  in  said  County,  and  continued 
until  the  day  of  election,  that  the  qualified 
electors  of  the  Township  of  Union,  New- 
ton, Monroe,  Concord,  Staunton,  Eliza- 
beth, Lost  Creek  and  Bethel  should  meet 
at  their  respective  places  of  holding  elec- 
tions, on  the  ninth  day  of  August  A.  D., 
1851,  and  then  and  there  vote  for  or 
against  a subscription  to  the  stock  of  the 
“Mad  River  and  Miami  Central  Railroad 
Company”  and  the  “Dayton  and  Michigan 
Railroad  Company,”  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars on  each  road.  And  it  further  appear- 
ing by  the  certificate  of  John  G.  Telford, 
Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for 
this  County,  also  on  file  in  said  Auditor’s 
office  that  on  the  vote  taken  on  the  9th  day 
of  August  instant,  in  pursuance  of  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Act  aforesaid  resulted  in 
favor  of  a subscription  by  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Miami  County  in  the  name  and 
for  the  benefit  of  said  County  to  the  capital 
stock  of  the  “Mad  River  and  Miami  Cen- 


354 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


tral  Railroad  Company”  and  the  “Dayton 
and  Michigan  Railroad  Company”  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
sixty  thousand  dollars  to  each  road. 

“It  is  ordered  that  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  said  Act,  the  Commis- 
sioners of  this  County  subscribe  in  its 
name  and  for  the  benefit  of  Miami  County 
to  the  capital  stock  of  “The  Dayton  and 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company”  six- 
ty thousand  dollars,  and  thereupon  the 
Commissioners  subscribed  upon  the  books 
of  the  said  “Dayton  and  Michigan  Rail- 
road Company”  for  twelve  hundred  shares 
of  $50  each  of  the  capital  stock  of  said 
Company,  amounting  to  sixty  thousand 
dollars.  And  it  having  been  agreed  by 
and  between  the  Commissioners  of  said 
County  and  the  Board  of  Directors  of  said 
Dayton  and  Michigan  Railroad  Company, 
that,  authorized  by  said  Act,  bonds  should 
be  issued  directly  to  said  Company  in  pay- 
ment of  said  stock,  bearing  interest  at  the 
rate  of  seven  per  cent,  per  annum  from 
the  1st  day  of  January,  1853,  and  payable 
annually  at  the  office  of  the  Ohio  Life  In- 
surance and  Trust  Company  in  the  City  of 
New  York.  It  is  ordered  that  bonds  of 
said  County  be  this  day  issued  to  the  Day- 
ton  and  Michigan  Railroad  Company  to  the 
amount  of  sixty  thousand  dollars  in  pay- 
ment of  said  subscription  by  said  County 
to  the  capital  stock  of  said  Company,  made 
£ind  executed  by  the  Commissioners  of 
said  County,  for  and  on  the  part  of  said 
County,  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  said 
Act  and  of  the  agreement  aforesaid,  and 
payable  to  the  Treasurer  of  said  Dayton 
and  Michigan  Railroad  Company,  or  the 
bearer,  at  the  office  of  the  Treasurer  of 
said  County  on  the  1st  day  of  January, 
A.  D.,  1872,  bearing  interest  at  the  rate 
of  seven  per  centum  per  annum  from  and 
after  the  first  day  of  January  A.  D.,  1852, 
at  the  office  of  the  Ohio  Life  Insurance 
and  Trust  Company  in  the  City  of  New 
York,  with  twenty  coupons  or  interest 
warrants  attached  to  each  of  said  bonds 
stating  the  number  and  amount  of  the 


bond,  the  amount  of  one  year’s  interest 
and  when  payable,  etc.,  each  to  be  signed 
by  the  Auditor  of  said  County  upon  the 
presentation  of  which  at  the  proper  time 
and  place,  said  interest  should  be  paid. 
That  sixty  of  said  bonds  be  issued  for  one 
thousand  dollars  each  and  numbered  from 
1 to  60  inclusive.  Journal  5,  page  94. 

October  7,  1853.  The  Commissioners 
met  especially  for  the  consideration  of 
subscribing  sixty  thousand  dollars  to  the 
capital  stock  of  the  “Mad  River  and  Miami 
Central  Railroad  Company,”  present,  Ja- 
cob Knoop,  Thomas  B.  Rose  and  Abner 
Rose,  and  Thomas  B.  Kyle,  Clerk. 

The  Commissioners  agree  to  subscribe 
sixty  thousand  dollars  to  the  capital  stock 
of  the  “Mad  River  and  Miami  Central 
Railroad  Company”  to  be  paid  by  trans- 
ferring the  capital  stock  of  Miami  County 
(belonging  to  the  southern  townships)  in 
the  “Dayton  and  Michigan  Railroad  Com- 
pany” of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  to  the 
“Mad  River  and  Miami  Central  Railroad 
Company”  provided  that  said  “Mad  River 
and  Miami  Central  Railroad  Company” 
take  the  said  stock  with  such  encumbrance 
or  agreement  as  may  exist  between  the 
Commissioners  and  the  officers  of  the 
“Dayton  and  Michigan  Railroad  Com- 
pany” and  hereby  authorize  the  Auditor 
of  Miami  County  to  make  the  transfer  of 
said  stock.  Journal  5,  page  151. 

March  5,  1856.  Commissioners  met 
agreeable  to  adjournment,  present  B.  F. 
Brown,  R.  Peterson  and  H,  Mitchell  and 
C.  N.  Hoagland,  Clerk.  The  Commission- 
ers then  adopted  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions: 

“Whereas,  the  Commissioners  on  the 
7th  day  of  October,  1853,  agreed  to  sub- 
scribe sixty  thousand  dollars  to  the  ‘Mad 
River  and  Miami  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany’ by  transferring  the  stock  of  the 
southern  townships  in  the  “Dayton  and 
Michigan  Railroad”  and  authorized  the 
Auditor  to  make  the  transfer;  therefore, 
resolved,  That  the  agreement  or  order  re- 
ferred to  is  in  direct  opposition  to  the  ex- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


355 


pressed  will  of  the  people  interested  and 
that  the  same  is  hereby  rescinded  and  the 
power  thereby  conferred  on  th  Auditor  is 
hereby  cancelled.  Journal  5,  page  233.” 

The  records  fail  to  show  that  any  fur- 
ther action  was  ever  taken  by  the  Com- 
missioners in  reference  to  said  subscrip- 
tion. 

March  23,  1854.  The  Commissioners  be- 
ing satisfied  that  the  present  lot  on  which 
the  jail  is  now  located  is  quite  too  small 
for  the  erection  of  suitable  buildings  for 
the  use  of  the  County,  hereby  authorize 
Thos.  B.  Rose  to  conclude  a conctract  with 
William  I.  Thomas  for  the  lot  opposite  to 
the  present  County  buildings,  being  lot  No. 
33  in  the  town  of  Troy,  for  which  said 
William  I.  Thomas  has  agreed  to  take  $2,- 
600,  $1,000  in  hand  and  the  balance  in  one 
and  two  years.  (Said  lot  being  the  pres- 
ent location  of  said  jail,  etc.)  Said  Thos. 
B.  Rose  being  also  authorized  to  contract 
for  materials  for  the  construction  of  a jail, 
jailer’s  house  and  Probate  Judge’s  office 
and  Court  room,  as  soon  as  the  plans  and 
necessary  calculations  can  be  made  so  that 
the  buildings  may  at  least  be  enclosed  dur- 
ing the  present  season  and  also  to  super- 
intend the  work  until  some  other  definite 
arrangement  or  arrangements  may  be 
made  or  the  work  let  by  contract.  Journal 
5,  page  165. 

June  17,  1865.  The  Board  agreed  to 
accept  the  proposition  of  Elias  Skinner  to 
sell  the  County  a fraction  of  land  lying 
west  of  the  D.  & M.  Railroad  and  adjoin- 
ing the  County  farm,  containing  23  to  24 
acres  at  $100  per  acre,  to  be  paid  for  when 
surveyed  and  a good  and  sufficient  title 
shall  have  been  made  for  the  same.  Jour- 
nal 6,  page  76. 

February  20,  1873.  The  Board  met,  all 
present,  and  Messrs.  Cairns  and  DeWeese, 
Infirmary  Directors,  were  also  in  attend- 
ance. Plans  and  specifications  for  the  pro- 
posed addition  to  the  County  Infirmary 
were  submitted  by  A.  A.  McCandless,  and 
after  a careful  examination  were  ap- 
proved, and  it  was  agreed  that  in  case  the 


voters  of  the  County,  at  the  approaching 
election  authorize  the  levying  of  a tax  for 
that  purpose,  the  plans  and  specifications 
should  be  adopted  and  proposals  received 
for  constructing  the  building  on  said  plans 
at  an  expense  not  exceeding  $2,500.  Jour- 
nal 6,  page  340. 

April  9,  1873.  The  Board  met  in  special 
session.  Present,  Saylor,  Coate  and  Audi- 
tor. The  Commissioners  and  Auditor  pro- 
ceeded to  open  the  poll  books  of  election 
held  on  the  first  Monday  (7th)  of  April, 
1873  for  and  against  a tax  for  building  an 
addition  to  the  County  Infirmary,  and 
found  after  a careful  canvas  that  there 
were  for  the  tax  1607  votes  and  against 
the  tax  2222  votes.  Journal  6,  page  345. 

Regular  monthly  session,  February  1, 
1875.  All  members  present.  In  the  mat- 
ter of  erecting  an  addition  to  the  County 
Infirmary  building,  this  being  the  day 
fixed  for  hearing  petitions  for  and  remon- 
strances against  said  improvement,  the 
Board  signified  their  readiness  to  proceed 
and  after  hearing  a petition  read  signed 
by  F.  A.  Hardy  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  others  and  being  notified  by 
the  Auditor  that  there  were  no  remon- 
strances filed  and  being  satisfied  that  said 
addition  is  necessary,  and  feeling  it  to  be 
their  imperative  duty  to  make  ample  pro- 
vision for  the  poor  and  unfortunate  do 
now,  by  virtue  of  an  Act  passed  April  27, 
1869,  and  the  subsequent  amendments 
thereto,  order  said  addition  to  be  made 
and  fix  February  8,  1875  at  10  a.  m.,  as 
the  time  to  meet  and  examine  plans,  speci- 
fications and  estimates  which  are  being 
prepared  by  Frank  Johnston,  Architect. 
This  meeting  to  be  held  in  conjunction 
with  the  Infirmary  Directors.  Journal  6, 
page  435. 

February  8,  1875.  Board  met  pursuant 
to  adjournment  and  in  conjunction  with 
two  of  the  Infirmary  Directors,  proceeded 
to  examine  the  drawings,  plans  and  speci- 
fications as  furnished  by  F.  E.  Johnston, 
Architect,  and  after  a careful  examination 
of  same,  on  motion  they  were  approved 


356 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


and  adopted,  and  Auditor  instructed  to  ad- 
vertise for  sealed  bids  for  the  construc- 
tion of  said  addition  in  accordance  there- 
with. Journal  6,  page  436. 

February  12,  1876.  Board  met  in  called 
session.  Members  present,  Clyne  and 
Northcutt  and  Auditor,  Clerk.  A state- 
ment of  the  assets  and  liabilities  of  the 
Miami  County  Agricultural  Society  was 
presented  by  the  Agricultural  Board.  Said 
statement  of  liabilities  setting  forth  that 
the  notes  held  by  Eliza  McKaig,  secured 
by  mortgage  on  the  Miami  County  Fair 
Grounds  do  now,  including  interest, 
amount  to  fifteen  hundred  and  sixteen  dol- 
lars and  fifty  cents,  and,  in  consequence  of 
the  failure  of  said  Agricultural  Society  to 
pay  the  said  interest,  the  whole  amount  is 
now  due,  and  proceedings  commenced  to 
sell  said  Grounds  by  foreclosure  of  mort- 
gage. And  now  comes  said  Agricultural 
Board  and  requests  the  Commissioners  to 
pay  the  above  named  amount  out  of  the 
County  Treasury  as  provided  by  Section 
3 of  an  Act  entitled  “An  Act  supplemen- 
tary to  an  Act  for  the  encouragement  of 
agriculture”  as  amended  March  38,  1871. 
And  the  Commissioners,  after  carefully 
considering  the  matter  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing proposition,  viz. : That  they  would 
pay  the  said  Eliza  McKaig  claim,  provided 
the  Agricultural  Board  would  make  the 
County  a warranty  deed  for  said  Fair 
Grounds,  they,  the  Commissioners,  per- 
mitting the  said  deed  to  contain  the  fol- 
lowing conditions,  to-wit: 

Said  Agricultural  Society  shall  have  the 
privilege  to  use  said  Grounds  for  the  pur- 
pose of  holding  County  Fairs  so  long  as 
said  Society  exists,  provided  that  the  said 
Fairs  are  held  exclusively  for  the  benefit 
of  stock  raisers,  mechanical  and  agricul- 
tural products  of  Miami  County,  Ohio,  un- 
less otherwise  arranged  with  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  said  County.  Fur- 
ther, that  there  shall  be  no  intoxicating 
liquors  sold  upon  the  grounds  during  the 
time  of  holding  regular  Fairs  on  said 
Grounds,  unless  specially  arranged  to  do 


so  with  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of 
said  County  and  when  said  Society  ceases 
to  exist  as  such  (which  shall  be  when  said 
Society  fails  to  hold  Fairs  as  above  stated 
for  two  successive  years)  the  Commis- 
sioners may  then  appropriate  said  Ground 
to  whatever  use  they  may  deem  best  for 
the  interset  of  the  County,  and  said  prop- 
osition being  accepted  by  the  Agricultural 
Board,  the  Auditor  was  instructed  to  issue 
his  warrant  on  County  Treasury  in  favor 
of  said  Eliza  McKaig  for  said  above  named 
amount,  upon  presentation  of  said  deed 
together  with  notes  and  mortgages.  Jour- 
nal 6,  page  480. 

August  7,  1877.  Board  met  as  per  ad- 
pournment,  all  members  being  present.  In 
the  matter  of  the  conveyance  by  John  K. 
Knoop,  deceased,  of  a certain  tract  of  land 
situate  in  Elizabeth  Township,  containing 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  more  or  less, 
to  the  Commissioners  of  Miami  County, 
subject  only  to  the  following  conditions, 
to-wit : 

“That  a Children’s  Home  be  erected  and 
maintained  thereon,”  decided  by  unani- 
mous vote  to  accept  said  donation  and 
agree  to  erect  and  maintain  a Children’s 
Home  thereon,  provided  a majority  of  the 
qualified  electors  of  the  County  shall  de- 
clare by  their  ballots  to  be  in  favor  of  es- 
tablishing said  “Children’s  Home.”  And 
the  Commissioners  do  hereby  with  pleas- 
ure take  this  opportunity  in  behalf  of  the 
citizens  of  the  County,  whom  they  repre- 
sent, and  the  homeless  children  who  may 
be  benefited  thereby,  to  express  their  ex- 
treme gratitude  to  the  donor  for  this  lib- 
eral donation,  believing  that  he  is  now  re- 
ceiving his  reward  in  that  Better  Land, 
and  is  basking  in  the  sunshine  of  Him  who 
said,  “Inasmuch  as  you  have  done  it  unto 
one  of  the  least  of  these,  etc.”  The  Audi- 
tor was  then  instructed  to  give  the  neces- 
sary notice  as  is  required  by  law  that  the 
matter  shall  be  submitted  at  the  next  reg- 
ular election  in  October,  viz.:  The  ques- 

tion of  establishing  a “Children’s  Home” 
for  the  County  and  to  provide  funds  for 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


357 


the  erection  of  said  Home  and  the  main- 
tenance thereof.  Journal  6,  page  567. 

The  records  fail  to  show  that  said  elec- 
tion was  held,  but  the  following  proceed- 
ings of  the  Commissioners  would  indicate 
that  a majority  of  votes  were  cast  favor- 
able to  said  Home. 

April  4,  1878.  Commissioners  met  this 
day  as  per  appointment  with  D.  W.  Gibbs, 
Architect,  to  examine  the  plans,  etc.,  to  be 
furnished  by  him  for  the  Children’s  Home 
building.  Present,  Northcutt,  Cl.yne  and 
Branson,  and  Auditor,  Clerk.  Mr.  Gibbs 
appeared  with  plans,  specifications,  etc., 
governing  the  construction  of  the  new 
Home  building  and  the  same  were  care- 
fuly  examined  by  the  Board.  The  said 
plans,  specifications,  etc.,  were  duly  ap- 
proved, subject  to  such  changes  as  the 
Commissioners  should  see  fit  to  make  at 
any  time,  and  if  in  their  judgment  any 
change  should  seem  desirable — and  were 
accepted,  and  Architect  duly  employed  to 
supervise  the  erection  of  the  said  building, 
under  the  contract  originally  made  with 
him  for  the  making  of  the  plans  and  su- 
perintendence therein  of  said  buildings, 
etc.  The  Board  then  ordered  the  Auditor 
to  have  the  necessary  legal  notices  adver- 
tised of  the  letting  of  said  construction  of 
the  Home  buildings  on  the  8th  day  of  May, 
1878,  inviting  sealed  proposals  for  such 
work,  according  to  the  law  governing  such 
matters,  said  proposals  to  be  received  until 
one  o’clock  p.  m.,  of  that  day.  They  also 
ordered  the  printing  of  100  copies  of  spec- 
ifications, 150  copies  of  postal  card  no- 
tices to  contractors,  and  150  blank  forms 
for  bidders’  proposals.  Journal  7,  page  47. 

May  8,  1878.  This  being  the  day  accord- 
ing to  published  notice,  to  receive  and  open 
bids  for  the  construction  of  the  “Children’s 
Home”  building  upon  the  farm  deeded  to 
the  County  for  that  purpose  by  John  K. 
Knoop,  deceased,  the  Commissioners  met 
at  9 o clock  a.  m.,  all  members  being  pres- 
ent and  Auditor,  as  Clerk.  A conference 
with  the  architect  as  to  the  matters  relat- 
ing to  the  letting,  etc.,  during  the  fore- 


noon and  a recess  taken  until  1 o’clock  p. 
m.  Reassembled  at  1 p.  m.,  all  present. 
The  bids  which  had  been  filed  with  the 
Auditor  up  to  1 o’clock  were  then  opened 
and  publicly  read  and  the  same  recorded 
on  a schedule  prepared  for  that  purpose. 
Forty-six  bids  in  all  were  opened,  divided 
among  the  different  classes  of  work.  Af- 
ter carefully  examining  the  same  and  per- 
mitting Dawson  and  Anderson  to  with- 
draw their  bid  upon  the  stone  work,  (they 
having  made  their  figures  under  a misap- 
prehension in  regard  to  the  specifications 
upon  said  stone  work)  and  allowing  Oliver 
Laporte  also  to  withdraw  his  bid  upon  the 
same  class  of  work  on  the  same  ground, 
they  declared  the  successful  bidders  upon 
the  different  kinds  of  work  to  be  as  fol- 
lows : Here  follows  a schedule  of  the  suc- 
cessful bidders  with  the  amounts  bid  by 
them  respectively  for  the  various  kinds  of 
work,  the  whole  amounting  to  $16,270.25. 
Journal  7,  page  51. 

October  21,  1880.  The  following  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  by  the  Commissioners 
and  ordered  to  be  put  upon  the  minutes. 

Whereas,  in  the  construction  of  the 
Home  buildings,  but  $17,000  in  County 
Bonds  were  originally  issued,  which  bonds 
had  but  two  years  to  run  and  which  are 
now  all  paid ; and  whereas,  the  cost  of  con- 
struction of  said  buildings  was  in  excess 
of  $25,000,  so  that  the  levy  by  taxation  to 
pay  the  original  bonds  and  to  furnish  said 
buildings  and  pay  for  the  support  of  the 
institution  since  its  organization  has  not 
been  sufficient  by  reason  of  drawing 
largely  upon  said  fund  to  pay  the  balance 
of  the  cost  of  construction;  therefore,  be 
it  resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners issue  the  sum  of  $6000  of  County 
Bonds  bearing  six  per  cent  interest,  to  be 
sold  for  not  less  than  par  value,  to  reim- 
burse the  Children’s  Home  Fund.  Journal 
7,  page  315. 

August  10,  1881.  The  Commissioners 
met  this  day  in  special  session,  all  the 
members  being  present  and  the  Auditor  as 
Clerk.  This  being  the  day  upon  which  the 


358 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Commissioners,  by  previous  arrangement, 
were  to  meet  D.  W.  Gibbs  & Co.,  Archi- 
tects, of  Toledo,  for  the  purpose  of  receiv- 
ings plans  to  be  submitted  by  them  and  to 
be  examined  by  the  Board,  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  new  wing  at  the  Home 
building  and  also  the  new  school  house  and 
chapel  upon  the  Home  grounds  and  the 
said  architects  being  present  with  plans 
and  specifications,  details,  etc.,  the  said 
plans,  estimates,  etc.,  were  carefully  ex- 
amined by  the  Board,  and,  upon  motion, 
were  approved  and  adopted.  The  Board, 
however,  upon  the  advice  of  the  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney,  postponed  immediate  action 
in  relation  to  the  letting  of  said  work  to 
bidders.  Journal  7.  page  371. 

January  15,  1883.  The  Commissioners 
instructed  the  Auditor  to  make  certain 
changes  in  the  specifications  for  the  chapel 
and  school  house  for  the  Children’s  Home, 
as  indicated  by  them,  and  then  proceed  to 
advertise  the  letting  of  contract  of  the 
work  of  construction  of  said  building  as 
soon  as  possible. 

March  7,  1883.  In  conformity  with  the 
provisions  of  Section  4010  R.  S.,  requiring 
Commissioners  of  the  County  to  provide 
necessary  school  rooms  for  Children’s 
Homes,  and  Section  No.  929  Revised  Stat- 
utes, empowering  them  to  issue  bonds  for 
the  erection  of  buildings  for  Children’s 
Homes,  it  is  ordered  that  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  a new  school  house  at  the  said 
Home  in  this  County,  the  sum  of  $5000  in 
County  Bonds  be  issued  in  denominations 
of  $1000  each,  bearing  six  per  cent  inter- 
est. payable  semi-annually.  Journal  7, 
page  583. 

April  17,  1883.  The  Commissioners  met 
this  day  according  to  their  order  of  ad- 
journment at  the  March  session  to  con- 
clude the  unfinished  business  of  their  reg- 
ular session.  All  the  members  of  the  Board 
were  present  and  the  Auditor  as  Clerk. 
The  bids  filed  for  the  construction  of  the 
school  house  at  Children’s  Home,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  advertised  notice  call- 
ing for  same,  were  this  day  opened,  and, 


upon  examination,  it  was  found  that  F.  E. 
Johnston’s  proposal  to  do  all  the  work  ac- 
cording to  the  plans  and  specifications,  to 
complete  the  building  for  the  sum  of  seven 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  was  the 
lowest  bid  for  said  work  and.  upon  motion, 
all  the  Board  voting  aye,  the  work  was 
awarded  to  him  upon  said  bid.  and  he  was 
notified  to  file  his  contract  and  bond  as  re- 
quired by  Statute  (the  same  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  Prosecuting  Attorney) 
within  five  days  from  this  date.  Journal 
7,  page  592. 

April  6.  1886.  Board  met  as  per  ad- 
journment of  April  5.  1886,  all  members 
present,  and  the  Auditor  as  Clerk  of  the 
Board. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  having 
been  read  and  approved,  the  following  or- 
der was  then  made : 

Whereas,  this  Board  has  given  notice  as 
required  by  law  of  their  intention  to  build 
an  addition  to  the  County  Infirmary  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  permanently  in- 
sane: and.  whereas,  Charles  C.  Barnett 
has  been  employed  as  architect  and  has 
prepared  plans  and  specifications  as  re- 
quired bv  Section  795,  Revised  Statutes; 
and,  whereas,  said  plans  and  specifications 
have  been  annroved  as  provided  by  Sec- 
tion 797  Revised  Statutes,  as  amended. 
tO.  S.  Vol.  77.  page  72).  it  is  therefore  or- 
dered by  a unanimous  vote  of  the  Board 
that  the  Auditor  be  instructed  to  give  no- 
tice. as  repaired  bv  law.  that  sealed  bids 
will  be  received  at  his  office  until  12  o’clock 
noon  of  Thursday.  May  20.  1886.  for  fur- 
nishing material  and  doing  the  work  of 
constructing  said  building,  as  required  by 
Section  798,  Revised  Statutes  of  Ohio. 
Journal  8,  page  257. 

Mav  20.  1886.  Bids  for  the  building  of 
the  new  Insane  Asylum  at  the  Miami 
County  Infirmary  were  opened  and  care- 
fully examined  and  it  was  found  that  the 
bid  of  T.  B.  Townsend,  to-wit,  $9799,  for 
the  whole  work  was  the  lowest  and  best 
bid  and.  on  motion,  said  ocntract  was 
awarded  to  him.  Journal  8,  page  264. 


JOHN  MONTGOMERY  CAMPBELL 

John  Montgomery  Campbell  was  of  Scotch  origin,  his  ancestors  coming  to  America  before  the  Revolution. 
He  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  on  March  8,  1838.  He  assisted  in  the  farming, 

attended  the  local  schools  and  taught  school  until  October  28,  1861,  on  which  date  he  enlisted  in  Company 

D,  71st  O.  V.  I.  from  which  he  mustered  out  on  December  3 1864.  His  regiment  fought  at  Shiloh,  Tenn., 
April  6-7,  1862,  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  August  19,  1862,  Fort  Donnelson,  Tenn.,  August  25,  1862,  Cumberland 
Iron  Works,  Tenn.,  August  26,  1862,  Clarksville  Tenn.,  September  7,  1862,  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  August  31,  to 
September  1,  1863,  Lovejoy  Station,  Ga.,  September  2-6,  1864.  In  these  campaigns,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  bore  a brave  soldier’s  part. 

He  returned  to  his  father’s  farm  and  engaged  in  the  notion  trade  with  the  Rhodehamel  Brothers  of 

Piqua,  Miami  County.  While  employed  in  this  work,  he  met  in  Arcanum,  Darke  County,  in  the  store  of 

John  Smith  with  whom  he  was  trading.  Miss  Anna  Carver  of  Miami  County  whom  he  wooed  won  and 
married  at  Arcanum  on  December  22,  1867. 

Mr.  Campbell  engaged  in  the  elevator  and  dry  goods  business  in  Arcanum,  Darke  County,  and  for  a 
short  time  in  the  elevator  business  in  Eaton,  Preble  County,  moving  to  Troy  in  1877,  he  engaged  in  the 
dry  goods  and  grain  elevator  business. 

Conroy  Carver  Campbell,  his  only  son,  was  born  in  Arcanum  on  October  12,  1870,  and  Elizabeth  Mar- 
garet Campbell  was  born  on  July  4,  1872. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  an  ardent  Republican  and  was  elected  sheriff  of  Miami  County  in  th© 
fall  of  1881  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  1885.  It  is  worthy  of  note  to  state  that  his  four  prede- 
cessors in  this  office  and  his  two  successors  had  been  soldiers  in  the  Civil  War,  making  fourteen  terms  or 
twenty-eight  years  in  all. 

In  1887.  Mr.  Campbell  moved  to  Hastings,  Nebraska,  but  not  being  satisfied  with  that  move,  he  returned 
to  Troy  the  same  year.  It  was  while  in  Nebraska  he  conceived  the  idea  of  organizing  The  Troy  National 
Bank  which  he  did  upon  his  return  to  Ohio,  and  was  elected  its  first  vice-president  and  in  1889  became 
president  of  said  bank  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to  serve  for  twenty  years,  when,  on  account  of 
failing  health,  he  resigned.  It  has  been  said  that  John  M.  Campbell  knew  more  men  in  Miami  County, 
by  name,  than  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  in  the  county.  He  was  a genial,  hand-shaking  man  and 
the  bank  under  his  management  rapidly  forged  to  the  front  of  financial  institutions  in  Miami  County.  His 
friends  prevailed  upon  him  to  accept  the  presidency  of  the  Miami  County  Savings  Bank,  organized  in  1909, 
but  his  health  again  warned  him  to  resign  and  this  bank  was  sold  to  The  Troy  National  January  1,  1913. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  a member  of  the  Christian  Church  after  moving  to  Troy  but  later  joined  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  which  he  was,  for  many  years,  a member  of  the  Official  Board.  He  was  a 
member  of  Franklin  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.  of  Troy  and  became  a Knight  Templar  of  Coleman  Commandery. 

He  died  on  December  25.  1912  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  Cemetery  after  an  earnest  life  in  which  he 
had  wrought  out  his  full  share  of  works  well  done. 


JOHN  REYBURN  WOODWARD 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  picture,  was  born  on  December  5,  1835,  on  the  farm  entered  and  owned  by 
his  father,  known  as  “The  Woodward  Hill  Farm.”  His  father  acquired  the  one  acre  on  which  the  famous 
spring:  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  located  by  purchase.  John  R.  Woodward  was  educated  in  the  local  schools, 
at  Springfield,  and  Antioch  College.  In  his  second  year,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  college  on  account  of 
sickness.  When  he  left,  he  was  furnished  the  following  certificate:  “This  is  to  certify  that  John  R. 
Woodward  leaves  this  institution  on  account  of  ill  health  and  under  no  censure  from  the  faculty.”  Signed 
by  Horace  Mann,  president.  He  married  Marcella  Bell,  of  Springfield,  on  October  14,  1856.  From  this 
union  there  were  born  William  Bell  and  Ada  Lee  Woodward.  He  engaged  in  the  sale  of  general  nursery 
stock,  conducting  the  farm  of  160  acres  at  the  same  time,  which  he  had  inherited.  He  entered  the  army 
as  captain  of  Company  C,  71st  O.  V.  I.  in  the  fall  of  1861.  He  led  his  company  at  Shiloh  on  April  6-7, 
1862,  and  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  on  August  19,  1862,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  Miami  County. 
On  May  2,  1864,  he  was  commisisoned  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  147th  O.  V.  I.  and  commanded  Fort  Marcy, 
Va.,  with  four  companies.  When  Generals  Early  and  Brecken ridge,  of  the  Confederate  army,  attacked 
Washington  on  June  11,  1864,  the  regiment  was  ordered  at  midnight  to  Fort  Stevens  where  it  moved  into 
the  trenches  as  support  to  the  first  Maine  and  First  Ohio  batteries  and  remained  in  this  position  until  July 
4th.  Colonel  B.  F.  Rossou,  a Mexican  war  veteran,  surrendered  the  command  to  the  right  of  the  regiment 
to  his  Lieutenant  Colonel  on  this  occasion.  Col.  Woodward  was  a popular  and  efficient  officer,  having  the 
full  confidence  of  his  men.  He  was  mustered  out  on  August  30,  1864,  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of 
service. 

During  his  soldier  life,  the  men  to  take  care  of  the  harvests  were  limited  and  the  women  were  com- 
pelled to  help.  Mrs.  Woodward,  a slightly  built  lady,  made  a full  hand  in  loading  and  mowing  the  wheat 
and  hay  for  two  seasons.  She  was  a splendid  prototype  of  the  Spartan  mothers  then  and  has  been  noted 
ever  since  for  her  excellent  work  in  patriotic  societies.  She  lives  with  her  daughter,  Ada  Lee,  wife  of  H.  J. 
Ritter,  a prominent  manufacturer  in  Tippecanoe,  for  four  years  representative  of  Miami  County  and  chair- 
man of  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  House.  Mrs.  Woodward  is  beloved  by  all  who  know  her  for  her  good 
works  and  amiable  qualities.  Such  women  cannot  be  too  highly  honored  by  future  generations. 

After  the  war,  he  embarked  in  the  oil  business  in  Pennsylvania  and  also  developed  road  and  draft 
horses  and  short  horn  cattle  on  his  farm  of  160  acres.  His  son-in-law,  H.  J.  Ritter,  was  his  faithful  coad- 
jutor in  these  latter  enterprises. 

Col.  Woodward  might  have  been  designated  without  impropriety  as  the  Bayard  Chevalier  of  Miami 
County  for  his  was  an  unusual  handsome  presence.  He  was  the  spirit  of  geniality  and  hospitality  and  his 
home  on  the  hill  was  the  scene  of  many  interesting  and  long  to  be  remembered  social  gatherings.  I was 
a welcome  guest  at  his  home  for  many  years  and  on  November  20,  1876,  I was  there  as  a pallbearer  for 
the  dead  body  of  my  friend.  A layman.  Dr.  S.  D.  Hartman,  preached  his  funeral  by  the  Colonel's  request 
before  his  death. 


GEORGE  GREEN 

George  Green,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  (whose  portrait  appears  above),  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Elsham,  Lincolnshire,  England,  July  16th,  1840.  He  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  with 
his  parents  who  located  at  Tippecanoe,  Miami  County. 

On  April  22nd  1861,  he  came  to  Troy  and  enlisted  in  Company  H of  the  11th  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry regiment  which  was  being  formed  here  for  the  three  months’  service.  When  his  term  was  out,  he 
re-enlisted  June  20th,  1861,  in  the  same  regiment  and  company  for  three  years. 

He  was  appointed  Corporal  of  his  Company,  September  1st,  1861.  After  passing  unscathed  through  all 
the  desperate  battles  preceding,  including  charges  on  Mission  Ridge,  he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Resacca,  Ga.,  May  14th,  1864.  It  was  from  the  result  of  this  wound  he  lost  his  left  leg.  He  refused 
to  take  an  anaesthetic  when  it  was  amputated. 

He  received  an  honorable  discharge  from  the  service  June  1st,  1864,  and  was  married  to  Harriet  E. 
Baer,  January  29th,  1871.  To  this  union  were  born  a daughter,  Clara  (now  Mrs.  Clara  G.  Jamison)  and  a 
son,  David.  He  was  a prominent  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Troy  ; was  a Trustee  of  the  Troy  Lodge 
I.  O.  O.  F. ; a Trustee  of  Trojan  Lodge,  K.  of  P.  ; a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
a U.  V.  L. 

He  was  the  Recorder  of  Miami  County  for  a consecutive  period  of  fifteen  years,  during  which  period 
he  made  a complete  abstract  of  all  land  titles  in  Miami  County  which  has  proven  of  great  benefit  to  the 
business  interests  of  the  county.  This  Abstract  office  has  been  successfully  conducted  by  his  widow,  Harriet 
E.  Green  and  her  son,  David  Green  since  his  death  on  February  10th,  1898. 

The  Eleventh  Ohio  Regiment  was  largely  a Miami  County  organization,  five  of  the  ten  companies 
having  been  recruited  here.  It  was  familiarly  known  as  the  “Gypsy”  regiment  but  more  frequently  as  the 
“fighting  eleventh.” 

At  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  one  of  the  most  daring  assaults  in  the  history  of  war,  George  Green 
distinguished  himself  by  capturing  a rebel  flag,  for  which  he  received  a medal  of  honor,  being  the  only 
one  awarded  during  the  Civil  War  to  a soldier  from  Miami  County. 

I have  stood  on  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge  at  the  point  where  the  Eleventh  Ohiol  charged  and  marveled 
at  the  wonderful  courage  of  these  Miami  County  boys  from  the  farm  and  shop,  which  out-rivaled  the 
charge  of  the  Light  Brigade.  George  Green  and  H.  H.  Howard  of  the  same  Company  were  among  the 
first  to  scale  the  crest.  They  made  right  for  one  of  the  enemy’s  flags,  in  the  face  of  a hot  fire  of  shot 
and  driving  the  protectors  before  them,  Green  tore  the  emblem  from  the  staff.  While  Green  was  securing 
the  flag,  Howard  protected  his  comrade  from  the  enemy  with  his  gun.  Corporal  Green  placed  the  flag  in 
his  bosom  and  with  Howard  pushed  on  with  the  Company  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  rebels.  After 
the  battle.  Corporal  Green  turned  the  flag  over  to  Brigadier  General  Turchin  and  received  his  com- 
mendation. Both  Green  and  Howard  were  recommended  for  promotion.  For  this  deed  of  heroism,  the 
Congress  awarded  him  a medal  of  honor,  a plate  of  which  we  herewith  insert  as  an  important  historical 
incident  of  Miami  County. 

Among  the  treasures  held  by  Harriet  E.  Green,  the  accomplished  widow  and  excellent  business  woman, 
she  guards  none  more  jealously  than  this  souvenir  of  a most  gallant  act  performed  by  her  husband  in  the 
service  of  his  country. 

I desire  to  here  acknowledge  the  many  courtesies  I have  received  from  her  and  her  son  David  in 
compiling  this  work.  Their  knowledge  of  all  Court  House  records  and  their  generous  willingness  to 
impart  information  has  lightened  the  heavy  burden  of  many  difficult  investigations. 


SIDNEY  LARKIN  CHAFFEE 


Sidney  Larkin  Chaffee,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  picture,  was  of  French  origin,  born  at  Danville, 
New  York,  on  May  17,  1819,  which  place  he  left  in  young  manhood,  making  the  trip  to  Wyandotte  county, 
Ohio,  on  foot,  with  but  75  cents  in  his  pocket,  sleeping  out  in  the  open  air  during  the  long  journey.  He 
often  described  to  his  family  the  incidents  of  this  enterprise  and  made  the  little  ones  shiver  at  his  descrip- 
tion of  the  wolf  and  panthers  howling  around  his  camp  fire.  He  came  to  Tippecanoe  in  1840,  when  there 
were  probably  three  houses  in  a forest  of  largely  sugar  tree  timber.  After  working  at  Cowlesville  for 
awhile,  he  established  himself  in  the  general  merchandise  business  near  the  canal,  convenient  to  trans- 
portation. He  often  went  by  packet  to  Cincinnati  to  purchase  his  goods. 

He  married  Barbara  Cecil,  a member  of  a well  known  and  popular  family  of  Miami  County,  on  September 
13,  1849,  from  which  union  there  were  born  Charles  Bernard,  Emma,  Nettie,  Blanche,  Jay  Ward  and  Willie 
Cecil.  Of  these  there  are  now  living,  in  October,  1917,  Emma,  Nettie,  Blanche  and  Jay  Ward. 

Between  1855  and  1865  he  purchased,  fed  and  sold  large  droves  of  hogs  ar\d  cattle,  preparing  them  for 
market  from  the  bi-product  of  his  large  distillery  in  Tippecanoe.  He  was  alert  to  the  higher  interests  of 
his  community  and  gave  freely  to  benevolent  enterprises.  The  building  of  Chaffee’s  opera  house  was  largely 
induced  by  civic  pride.  During  the  terrible  scourge  of  cholera  in  1849,  he  and  Modecai  Clark  took  their 
lives  in  their  hands  as  soldier  do  in  the  fore  front  of  battle,  caring  for  the  sick  and  burying  the  dead. 
His  children  and  grand  children  partake  of  his  public  spirit.  When  the  new  township  house,  just  finished, 
needed  a clock,  it  was  furnished  by  them.  The  following  inscription  is  to  be  seen  on  the  front  door  of 
this  handsome  building.  “The  clock  on  this  building,  presented  in  memory  of  Sidney  Larkins  and  Bar- 
bara Chaffee  by  their  children,  grand  children  and  great  grand  children.”  He  had  extensive  farming  in- 
terests in  Miami  County  and  in  Indiana  which  occupied  much  of  his  time  in  later  life.  He  was  a Repub- 
lican in  politics,  a genial  gentleman  with  a big  side  to  him,  a good  husband  and  a kind,  indulgent  father. 
He  wrought  strongly  and  left  evidences  of  having  been  here  that  will  always  live.  He  died  April  29,  1898, 
and  his  wife  followed  him  on  October  17,  1909. 

‘‘By  fairy  hands  their  knell  is  rung. 

By  forms  unseen  their  dirge  is  sung.” 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


363 


June  30,  1887.  Contract  for  building 
cottage  at  the  Children’s  Home  was 
awarded  to  Trupp  Weakley  & Co.,  for  the 
sum  of  $2545.18.  Journal  8,  page  397. 

March  31,  1888.  Old  Court  House  prop- 
erty sold  at  public  auction  to  P.  J.  Gates, 
Joseph  Henne  and  Troy  Lodge  No.  43,  I. 
0.  0.  F.,  for  $7600.  Journal  8,  page  461. 

Monthly  meeting,  May  5,  1884.  The 
Board  of  Commissioners  met  this  day. 
Present,  Clark,  Johnston,  Henderson  and 
Horatio  Pearson,  Auditor,  as  Clerk.  The 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
approved  and  the  following  resolutions 
were  then  read  and  adopted. 

Resolved,  by  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers of  Miami  County,  that  for  the  purpose 
of  better  protection  of  the  records  of  said 
County  and  to  afford  better  facilities  for 
the  administration  of  justice  therein,  a 
new  Court  House  is  in  our  judgment 
needed. 

Resolved,  That  in  pursuance  of  an  Act 
entitled,  “An  Act  to  authorize  the  Com- 
missioners of  Miami  County  to  borrow 
money  and  erect  a Court  House  at  Troy, 
Ohio,  the  present  County-seat  of  said 
County,”  passed  April  10,  1884,  we  forth- 
with proceed  to  take  necessary  steps  to 
carry  out  the  provisions  of  said  Act. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  finds  that  pub- 
lic intersets  require  the  building  and  erec- 
tion of  a new  Court  House  in  said  County, 
at  a cost  of  not  to  exceed  $150,000,  and 
that  this  Board  decides  to  proceed  and 
build  and  erect  said  new  Court  House, 
using  the  powers  given  this  Board  by  the 
Special  Act  of  the  Legislature  passed  April 
10,  1884. 

The  above  resolutions  were  adopted  by 
the  following  vote  on  call  of  the  roll.  Aye, 
Clark  and  J.  C.  Henderson.  No,  William 
Johnston.  Journal  8,  page  60. 

June  6,  1884.  Board  of  Commissioners 
met  this  day  according  to  adjournment 
from  yesterday.  Present,  Clark,  Johnston 
and  Henderson,  and  Horatio  Pearson,  Au- 
ditor, as  Clerk. 

Upon  motion  of  Mr.  Johnston,  seconded 


by  Mr.  Henderson,  the  Board  passed  the 
following  resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  the  County  Commission- 
ers of  Miami  County  hereby  declare  their 
intention  to  purchase  and  appropriate  for 
the  purpose  of  the  location  and  erection 
of  the  new  Court  House  and  other  public 
County  buildings  thereon,  the  following 
real  estate,  situate  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 
Miami  County,  and  in  the  Incorporated 
Village  of  Troy,  being  lots  Nos.  34  and  35 
of  said  village,  and  being  the  south  half, 
lying  on  Main  Street,  of  the  square  of  land 
that  lies  between  Main  and  Water  and 
Plum  and  Short  streets  of  said  village,  the 
cost  of  which  purchase  will  exceed  ten 
thousand  dollars  ($10,000). 

Resolved,  That  the  Commissioners  will 
consider  and  decide  upon  said  proposed 
purchase  and  location  at  their  meeting  to 
be  held  for  the  purpose  at  the  Court  House 
in  Troy,  Ohio,  on  July  11,  1884,  at  10:00 
o’clock  a.  m.  Upon  the  adoption  of  the 
above  resolutions,  the  members  of  the 
Board  voted  as  follows  upon  call  of  the 
roll.  Clark,  Johnston  and  Henderson,  aye. 
Nays,  none. 

Upon  motion,  the  Auditor  was  in- 
structed to  have  the  above  resolutions  pub- 
lished for  four  weeks  prior  to  the  pro- 
posed meeting  of  July  11,  1884,  in  the 
following  papers  published  and  of  general 
circulation  in  the  County,  viz. : The  Miami 
Union,  The  Tippecanoe  Herald  and  The 
Piqua  Leader,  and  also  to  have  printed  and 
circulated  handbills  giving  such  notice. 
Journal  8,  page  75. 

Special  session,  July  11,  1884.  Board 
met  pursuant  to  its  adjournment  of  June 
5th.  Present,  Clark,  Johnston  and  Hen- 
derson, and  the  Auditor  as  Clerk.  Upon 
the  hearing  of  the  matter  of  the  location 
of  the  proposed  new  Court  House,  as  set 
forth  in  the  notice  duly  advertised  by  pub- 
lication in  The  Miami  Union  of  Troy,  and 
The  Piqua  Leader  of  Piqua,  the  Board, 
upon  motion,  found : 

1st.  That  said  lots  are  necessary  for 
the  erection  of  a new  Court  House  because 


364 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


the  present  lands  are  insufficient  and  in- 
adequate for  said  purpose. 

2d.  That  said  lots  are  the  most  eligible 
for  said  purpose. 

3d.  That  due  notice  as  required  by  law 
had  been  given  of  said  intention  to  appro- 
priate and  purchase  said  lands  for  purpose 
and  that  the  costs  will  exceed  $10,000. 

4th.  The  Board  of  Commissioners  de- 
clare said  lands  to  be  necessary  for  the 
erection  of  the  new  Court  House  thereon, 
and  hereby  declare  their  intention  to  pur- 
chase or  appropriate  and  condemn  said 
lands  for  said  purpose  and  do  hereby  ap- 
propriate said  lands  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  Court  House  and  its  necessary  public 
buildings  thereon. 

5th.  M.  B.  Earnhart,  Prosecuting  At- 
torney of  said  County,  is  hereby  author- 
ized to  proceed  at  once,  either  in  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court  or  the  Probate  Court  of 
said  County,  as  he  may  elect,  to  appropri- 
ate and  condemn  said  lands  to  the  County, 
for  the  erection  of  said  public  buildings 
thereon.  Upon  the  adoption  of  each  and 
all  of  the  above  orders,  the  Board  all  vote 
aye  on  call  of  the  roll.  Journal  8,  page  82. 

September  8,  1884.  The  Board  of  Com- 
missioners met  this  day  in  adjourned  quar- 
terly session.  Present,  Commissioners 
Clark,  Johnston  and  Henderson,  the 
County  Auditor  acting  as  Clerk  of  the 
Board. 

The  following  resolution  was  introduced 
and  publicly  read  and  adopted,  to-wit: 

Whereas,  the  Commissioners  of  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  have  decided  to  appropriate 
to  the  County  Lots  Nos.  34  and  35,  Troy, 
Miami  County,  Ohio,  to  provide  some  suit- 
able place  for  a Court  House  and  its  nec- 
essary public  buildings,  and, 

Whereas,  William  Swailes  and  C.  F. 
Grosvenor  and  Helen  Grosvenor,  owners 
in  said  lots,  have  submitted  in  writing 
their  respective  prices  for  their  respective 
lands,  and, 

Whereas,  the  Prosecuting  Attorney  and 
the  Board  agree  that  these  prices  are  not 
unreasonable  and  are  as  cheap  as  the  same 


can  be  obtained  by  condemnation  suits, 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners accept  the  terms  of  the  respective 
lot  owners  of  said  lots  34  and  35,  and  will 
pay  the  cash  when  they  receive  warranty 
deeds  of  said  owners,  as  set  forth  in  their 
several  written  propositions  to  this  Board, 
and  that  the  Board  will  proceed  and  sell 
Court  House  Bonds  of  the  County  to  real- 
ize the  cash  payment  therefor.  Journal  8, 
page  107. 

September  20, 1884.  The  Board  of  Com- 
missioners of  Miami  County  have  decided 
to  appropriate  to  the  County  lots  Nos.  34 
and  35,  Troy,  Miami  County,  Ohio,  to  pro- 
vide some  suitable  place  for  a Court  House 
and  other  necessary  public  buildings,  and 

Whereas,  Mrs.  F.  R.  Baker  and  Miss  S. 
E.  Kyle,  by  their  agent,  W.  H.  Baker,  own- 
ers in  said  lots,  have  submitted  in  writing 
their  price  for  their  land,  and, 

Whereas,  the  Prosecuting  Attorney  and 
the  Board  agree  that  their  price  is  not  un- 
reasonable and  as  cheap  as  the  same  can 
be  obtained  by  condemnation  suits;  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners accept  the  terms  of  said  lot  owners 
as  set  forth  in  their  written  proposition  to 
this  Board ; and  that  the  Board  will  pro- 
ceed to  sell  Court  House  Bonds  of  the 
County  to  realize  the  cash  to  be  used  in 
payment  therefor.  Journal  8,  page  109. 

The  above  resolution  to  purchase  lots 
Nos.  34  and  35,  Troy,  Ohio,  from  William 
Swailes,  C.  F.  Grosvenor,  Helen  Grosvenor, 
Mrs.  F.  R.  Baker  and  Miss  S.  E.  Kyle  do 
not  recite  the  agreed  purchase  price 
thereof,  but  upon  the  completion  of  said 
contracts  as  shown  by  Journal  8,  pages 
110,  139,  140  and  142,  the  total  sum  paid 
was  $21,933.21. 

The  above  named  lots  Nos.  34  and  35 
comprise  only  the  south  half  of  the  block 
occupied  by  the  Court  House  and  the  rec- 
ords of  the  Commissioners  fail  to  show 
any  proceedings  in  relation  to  the  north 
half  thereof ; deeds,  however,  for  said  por- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


365 


tion  (being  lots  Nos.  12  and  13)  from  H. 
O.  Evans,  James  Nesbitt  and  W.  N.  Foster 
to  the  County  Commissioners  are  shown 
by  the  records  of  the  Miami  County  Re- 
corder (the  consideration  thereof  totalling 
$16,850),  the  Commissioners  having  been 
authorized  to  make  such  purchase,  by  a 
majority  of  the  votes  cast  by  the  electors 
of  Miami  County  at  a special  election  held 
therein. 

September  20,  1884.  A resolution  was 
adopted  to  employ  J.  W.  Yost  as  architect 
to  prepare  and  submit  plans  and  specifica- 
tions for  the  new  Court  House  (Journal 
8,  page  110)  and  on  January  2,  1885,  said 
plans,  etc.,  as  submitted  by  said  Yost  were 
examined,  approved  and  accepted  by  the 
Board  (Journal  8,  page  134)  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1885,  T.  B.  Townsend  of  Zanes- 
ville, Ohio,  was  awarded  the  contract  (he 
being  the  lowest  best  bidder)  for  construct- 
ing said  building  for  the  sum  of  $130,- 
158.64.  Journal  8,  page  145. 

The  records  fail  to  show  just  what  was 
included  in  said  plans  and  specifications, 
but  numerous  expenditures  are  shown  to 
have  been  made  thereafter,  for  changes 
in  plans,  furnishing,  heating,  lighting, 
frescoing,  plumbing,  construction  of  power 
house,  grading  and  improving  the  grounds 
etc.,  etc.,  which  will  undoubtedly  account 
for  the  discrepancy  between  said  contract 
price  of  $130,158.64  and  the  amount  of 
Court  House  Bonds  issued  from  time  to 
time  in  various  amounts  (totalling  $350,- 
000),  as  follows,  to-wit: 


January  1,  1885 $24,000 

July  1,  1885  48,000 

April  23,  1886  30,000 

January  1,  1887  60,000 

May  4,  1885  48,000 

November  16,  1885  30,000 

July  1,  1886  60,000 

July  1,  1887  50,000 


In  thirty  years  of  use,  the  present  Court 
House  shows  no  appreciable  signs  of  wear. 
It  is  as  convenient  to  the  people  of  Piqua 


as  it  is  to  half  the  people  of  Troy,  under 
the  modern  rapid  transit. 

THE  SO-CALLED  COURT  HOUSE  WAR 

There  have  been  so  many  exaggerations 
published  about  the  bitterness  of  feeling 
engendered  between  Piqua  and  Troy  over 
the  location  of  the  Court  House  for  Mi- 
ami county,  commencing  in  1807  and  con- 
tinued through  all  the  years  from  that 
time  until  1884,  and  especially  since  the 
fight  on  this  latter  date  has  been  repre- 
sented as  malignant,  that  I have  thought 
to  relate  briefly  the  history  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  present  splendid  edifice,  said  to 
be  not  only  the  most  expensive  but  the  best 
finished  one  in  the  State  outside  of  the 
larger  cities  of  the  State. 

The  contest  between  two  dry  goods  men 
or  any  two  men  or  firms  engaged  in  the 
same  line  of  business  in  the  same  com- 
munity can  be  considered  a fair  parallel  in 
a smaller  way  of  the  feeling  between 
Piqua  and  Troy,  both  anxious  to  secure  the 
county  seat  of  justice.  When  the  first 
court  was  located  at  Staunton  there  were 
about  sixty  people  living  there  and  a simi- 
lar number  living  in  Washington,  the 
name  of  the  village  afterward  incorpora- 
ted as  Piqua.  Court  was  held  in  the  house 
of  Peter  Felix,  the  first  resident  of  Miami 
county,  from  July,  1807,  to  December, 
1809. 

The  second  place  of  holding  court  for 
the  county  was  in  the  house  of  Benjamin 
Overfield  on  the  north  east  corner  of 
Water  and  Mulberry  streets,  in  the  town  of 
Troy.  The  structure  was  of  logs,  two 
stories,  and  built  for  a tavern  for  which  it 
was  used.  The  Court  bar  was  upstairs 
and  the  other  bar  down  stairs  in  the  cor- 
ner room.  It  has  been  nowhere  recorded, 
so  far  as  my  investigation  has  gone,  that 
the  bar  upstairs  had  a greater  number  of 
practitioners  than  the  one  down  stairs. 
After  the  lapse  of  111  years  this  house 
remains  in  good  repair,  now  weather- 
boarded.  After  8 years,  or  in  1815,  a new 
court  house  was  begunjn  the  public  square 


366 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


but  not  finished  for  ten  years  afterward, 
or  in  1825,  making  sixteen  years  that 
court  was  held  in  the  Overfield  tavern. 
Court  was  held  in  the  third  court  house  on 
the  square  for  a period  of  twenty  years  or 
until  1845.  At  this  time  the  population 
of  Miami  county  was  about  15,000.  There 
were  about  3,000  in  Piqua  and  2,000  in 
Troy.  The  two  towns  prior  to  1837  were 
about  equal  in  population  but  the  Miami 
and  Erie  canal  having  been  finished  to 
Piqua  on  that  date,  and  remaining  the  ter- 
minus for  several  years,  became  the  supply 
point  for  the  north  east  and  north  west, 
caused  Piqua  to  forge  ahead  in  population 
which  position  she  ever  afterward  main- 
tained until  at  the  present  time,  she  out- 
numbers Troy  two  to  one. 

When  a fourth  court  house  began  to  be 
agitated,  being  the  second  one  to  be  owned 
by  the  county,  the  first  organized  effort 
upon  the  part  of  Piqua  was  made  to  defeat 
the  project,  with  the  hope  that  it  might  go 
to  Piqua  in  time.  The  1845  court  house, 
located  on  lot  42  at  Troy,  now  occupied  by 
the  Troy  Post  Office  and  opposite  the 
Sheriff’s  residence  on  Main  street,  re- 
mained the  seat  of  justice  for  forty-three 
years,  or  until  1888.  At  this  time,  the 
population  of  Piqua  had  grown  as  follows : 
in  1860,  4,616;  in  1870,  5,967;  in  1880, 
6,036;  while  Troy  had  grown  from  2,643 
in  1860  to  3,005  in  1870  and  3,803  in  1880, 
and,  therefore,  Piqua  had  a population  of 
one-third  more  than  Troy. 

Early  in  the  legislative  year  of  1884,  a 
bill  was  offered  in  the  House  which  pro- 
vided for  the  establishment  of  a superior 
court  in  the  city  of  Piqua,  which,  if 
passed,  it  was  believed  might  eventually 
transfer  the  county  seat  to  Piqua,  or  it 
would  at  least  prevent  the  building  of  a 
new  court  house  in  Troy,  commensurate 
with  the  prospective  wealth  and  necessi- 
ties of  the  county.  The  gubernatorial  cam- 
paign of  1883  was  hotly  contested  and  re- 
sulted in  the  election  of  George  Hoadley 
and  a Democratic  legislature.  During 
that  campaign,  I was  the  chairman  of  the 


Miami  County  Central  and  Executive  Re- 
publican committees,  with  Boyd  E.  Furnas, 
afterward  auditor  of  Miami  county,  as  the 
secretary;  ex-Senator  John  W.  Morris  oc- 
cupied a similar  position  for  the  Demo- 
cratic party  of  the  county.  He  then  had 
his  office  near  the  river  bridge  on  Market 
street  in  Troy.  Early  in  January  of  1884 
I visited  him  in  his  office  when  the  follow- 
ing conversation  occurred:  “Senator,  I 

have  just  had  an  interview  with  S.  K. 
Harter,  H.  W.  Allen  and  W.  H.  H.  Dye 
who  have  delegated  me  to  solicit  your  aid 
in  procuring  legislation  favorable  to  the 
erection  of  a new  court  house  in  Troy,  and 
they  have  promised  to  support  us,  if  you, 
myself  and  Furnas  will  go  to  Columbus  at 
once  and  commence  work.”  The  Senator 
sprang  up  and  seizing  my  hand  said,  “I 
am  heartily  with  you,  I think  the  ponies 
can  put  it  over.”  In  referring  to  “the 
ponies,”  the  Senator  was  comparing  his 
and  my  stature  to  that  of  the  two  men  of 
large  avoirdupois  who  had  failed  in  a simi- 
lar mission  to  the  legislature,  some  years 
before.  When  we  arrived  in  Columbus, 
our  first  act  was  to  place  an  Atlas- 
Directory  on  the  desks  of  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty-three  members  of  the  House 
and  the  thirty-two  members  of  the  Senate, 
with  an  outline  map  of  Miami  county,  on 
the  marble  mantel  piece  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Chamber  of  Representatives.  These 
Atlas-Directories  contained  a list  of  each 
voter  in  Miami  county,  located  by  quarter 
sections  with  a list  of  all  business  houses 
in  the  county,  including  those  conducted 
by  women.  A colored  map  of  each  town- 
ship and  each  school  district  was  outlined 
in  this  book  being  the  only  colored  school 
district  map  ever  published  in  the  United 
States.  These  books,  placed  on  the  desk  of 
each  legislator,  were  furnished  without 
price  by  Sterrett  and  Furnas  and  repre- 
sented the  sum  of  $1,555,  at  the  retail 
price. 

Our  friends  from  the  city  of  Piqua, 
headed  by  the  Hon.  Frank  McKinney, 
former  Congressman,  at  once  came  to  Co- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  CUONTY 


36 1 


lumbus  to  defeat  our  bill.  Just  prior  to 
the  passage  of  our  bill  by  the  House,  a 
legislative  committee  was  appointed  to 
visit  Piqua  and  Troy  to  look  the  situation 
over.  Senator  Morris  and  myself  came 
over  with  them  visiting  Piqua  first.  We 
were  driven  over  the  city  during  the  after- 
noon, and  then  to  Troy,  over  the  streets 
past  each  manufacturing  plant,  etc.  The 
employes  of  each  plant  were  lined  up  as 
the  committee  passed  through.  There 
were  no  idle  people  or  animals  in  the  city 
that  evening.  Everybody  and  everything 
was  used  in  some  way  to  impress  our  visi- 
tors that  Troy  was  an  exceedingly  busy 
place.  A list  of  people  living  in  Troy  and 
south  of  it  was  presented  to  them  to  show 
a larger  population  than  north  of  it.  A 
banquet  was  given  them  at  the  present 
Hotel  Troy,  at  which  the  best  to  eat  and 
drink  in  the  valley  was  set  before  our 
guests.  Some  of  the  most  staid  citizens  of 
Troy  indulged  in  conduct  that  night  never 
before  or  afterward  practiced,  and  ordi- 
narily regarded  as  reprehensible  behavior. 
Our  visitors,  one  and  all,  left  us  in  such  a 
degree  of  exhilaration,  that  they  openly 
proclaimed  from  the  car  platform  as  they 
moved  off  that  we  could  have  a million 
dollar  court  house  if  we  wanted  such  an 
one.  It  can  safely  be  stated  now,  without 
the  betrayal  of  any  confidence  that  the 
people  of  Troy  had  superior  information 
in  relation  to  the  visit  of  the  committee 
and,  therefore,  greater  opportunity  to  im- 
press them. 

At  the  last  hearing  before  the  commit- 
tee, there  were  a half  hundred  prominent 
men  from  Piqua  and  Troy  present  using 
their  influence  with  members,  fraternizing 
as  good  neighbors  should,  one  bent  on 
passing  and  the  other  on  defeating  the  bill. 
So  far  as  the  intercourse  of  the  men  com- 
posing these  two  delegations  was  con- 
cerned outside  of  the  Legislature,  they 
might  have  been  present  on  the  same 
friendly  mission.  When  the  bill  passed  the 
House  and  a re-consideration  was  at  once 
offered  and  voted  down,  our  county  map 


was  carried  from  the  House  to  the  Senate 
Chamber  by  the  Veteran  Third  Sergeant 
at  Arms,  Col.  Fred  Blenkner,  with  whom  I 
had  served  in  the  5th  Battalion  of  Ohio 
Cavalry  during  the  Civil  War  and  who,  in 
all,  has  served  the  State  in  that  capacity 
for  forty  years. 


Among  a number  of  amusing  incidents 
connected  with  that  work,  the  one  imme- 
diately after  entering  the  Senate,  is  prob- 
ably the  most  laughable.  I had  succeeded 
in  pinning  the  Republican  leader  of  the 
Senate  against  one  of  the  large  pillars  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Chamber,  and  Senator 
Morris  had  the  Democratic  leader  on  the 
other  side  of  the  same  pillar,  without  he 
or  I being  aware  of  it.  I was  explaining 
to  my  man  that  the  passage  of  the  meas- 
uie  would  largely  aid  the  Republican 
party  of  Miami  county  and  Senator  Morris 
was  explaining  that  the  passage  of  the  bill 
would  greatly  aid  the  Democratic  party  of 
Miami,  when  John’s  man  stepped  out  and 
said  to  my  man,  “Senator  Williams,  we 
had  best  pass  this  bill  or  both  your  party 
and  mine  will  go  to  the  devil  in  Miami 
county , and  so,  with  both  leaders  enter- 
ing the  lists  in  our  favor,  it  was  really  but 
a matter  of  red  tape  or  legislative  formula 
to  send  it  to  engrossment. 

The  passage  of  our  bill  did  not  by  any 
means  insure  the  building  of  a new  Court 
House.  The  bill  only  provided  for  the 
necessary  legislative  authority  for  the  peo- 
ple of  Miami  county  to  vote  on  the  propo- 
sition. With  the  universal  disposition  of 
a certain  class  of  citizens  to  vote  against 
any  measure  which  will  increase  taxes  and 
a practically  unanimous  vote  against  it  in 
the  city  of  Piqua,  the  measure  could  not 
possibly  carry  before  the  people.  In  this 
dilemma,  it  was  agreed  among  prominent 
Republicans  to  elect  Senator  Morris  as  a 
member  of  the  Troy  Council  which  was 

?u?rbwaJane  m?jority’  In  1852>  when 
55?  . & D-  railroad  was  built  through 

Miami  County,  Troy  had  subscribed  lib- 
erally to  its  construction  and  the  road  was 
built  through  the  town ; but  Piqua  people, 


368 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


under  the  belief  that  the  managers  of  the 
road  for  business  reasons  would  not  dare 
miss  them,  subscribed  not  at  all  and  the 
road  was  built  a mile  to  the  east  of  them 
which  fact  involved  the  business  men  of 
that  city  in  a perpetual  tax  that  they  had 
been  anxious  to  lift,  up  to  that  time,  for  a 
period  of  thirty  years.  This  could  only  be 
accomplished  by  inducing  the  railroad  to 
run  a track  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
which  could  only  be  affected  by  obtaining 
the  necessary  right  of  way  through  Troy 
and  no  council  in  Troy  had  been  willing  to 
grant  such  a right  over  the  streets. 

In  that  day  before  election  tickets  were 
printed  at  the  expense  of  the  county,  the 
several  political  committees  had  printed 
and  paid  for  the  tickets  used  at  the  polls. 
It  was  agreed  between  a few  men  in  both 
Piqua  and  Troy  who  could  control  the 
matter  that  if  the  Council  of  Troy  would 
grant  the  right  of  way  for  the  C.  H.  & D. 
railroad  through  their  city,  the  tickets  of 
both  political  parties  in  Piqua  would  be 
printed  with  the  Court  House  question 
blank.  The  contract  was  carried  out  in 
good  faith  by  both  sides.  While  the  rights 
of  way  over  the  streets  of  Troy  were  given 
by  the  Council  under  the  management  of 
Senator  Morris,  the  private  rights  of  way 
became  another  consideration  which, 
while  it  has  no  connection  with  the  new 
Court  House,  ought  to  have  this  historical 
record  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  Senator 
Morris.  Trusting  in  the  oral  promise  of 
Mr.  Waite,  then  the  superintendent  of  the 
railroad  property,  he  purchased  the  nec- 
essary private  rights  of  way  between 
Piqua  and  Troy  and  presented  his  bill 
therefor,  after  Mr.  Waite  had  been  suc- 
ceeded by  a new  superintendent  who  re- 
fused to  ratify  the  prices  paid.  Over  this, 
a law  suit  lasting  several  years  dragged 
through  the  Court  House  that  John  had 
helped  so  much  to  create  and  the  building 
of  which  had  caused  his  costly  litigation, 
resulting,  as  it  did,  in  the  loss  of  several 
thousands  of  dollars  to  him.  If  I were 
writing  a personal  history,  my  experience 


with  the  new  Court  House  wtuld  parallel 
that  of  Morris.  In  this  relation  I am  re- 
minded to  here  quote  the  humorous  in- 
scription : 

“Here  lies  a man  who  lived  an  hundred 
years  and  had  many  troubles,  most  of 
which  never  happened.” 

In  a hundred,  aye,  in  two  hundred  years 
from  now,  when  Piqua  has  grown  South 
and  Troy  North,  with  a line  of  great  in. 
dustries  , along  the  barge  canal  bound  to 
be  built,  some  one  will  revert  to  these 
pages  for  a true  history  of  the  inception 
of  the  building  of  our  splendid  Court 
House,  still  standing  on  its  strong  founda- 
tions and  imperishable  material. 

BRANDT 

Was  laid  out  and  owned  by  John  i 
Peter  Vorhees  and  Thomas  Dover,  Marci* 
23,  1839.  Original  plat  recorded  in  Vol- 
ume 17,  pages  229  and  230,  Miami  County 
Record  of  Deeds. 

BLOOMERTOWN 

Was  laid  out  and  owned  by  George  H. 
Finfrock,  Aaron  D.  Camp,  William  Derr, 
William  W.  Sando,  Samuel  Sando  and  Si- 
mon B.  Crick,  January  18,  1883.  Plat  re- 
corded Vol.  1,  page  486,  Plat  Record. 

BRADFORD 

Was  laid  out  and  owned  by  Daniel  R. 
Rice,  August  15,  1888.  Plat  recorded  Vol. 
1,  page  165,  Record  of  Plats. 

CASSTOWN 

Owned  and  laid  out  by  Rankin  Westfall 
and  Luke  T.  Dorsey,  June  14,  1833.  Plat 
recorded  Vol.  10,  page  366,  Record  of 
Deeds. 

CHARLESTON 

Laid  out  by  Ignatus  Friend,  proprietor, 
May  12,  1815.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  2,  page 
356,  Record  of  Deeds. 


ORGANIZATION  QF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


369 


CONOVER 

Was  laid  out  by  Solomon  G.  Brecount, 
April  26,  1856.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  1,  page 
57,  Record  of  Plats. 

CLAYTON 

Laid  out  by  Jacob  Martin,  proprietor, 
February  3,  1840.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  18, 
page  233,  Record  of  Deeds. 

COWLESVILLE 

Laid  out  by  Samuel  Y.  Pearson,  pro- 
prietor, October  10,  1842.  Plat  recorded 
Vol.  20,  page  156,  Record  of  Deeds. 

COVINGTON 

Was  laid  out  and  originally  called 
Friendship.  Plat  filed  September  16,  1816 
and  recorded  in  Vol.  3,  page  94,  Record  of 
Deeds. 

DINGMANSBURG 

(Now  in  Shelby  County)  was  laid  out 
by  Daniel  V.  Dingman,  September  23, 
1816.  Plat  recorded  in  Vol.  3,  page  81, 
Record  of  Deeds. 

FLETCHER 

Was  laid  out  by  John  H.  Wolcott  No- 
vember 15,  1830.  Plat  recorded  Volume 
8,  page  184,  Record  of  Deeds. 

FREDERICKTOWN 

Was  laid  out  by  Leonard  Eller,  propri- 
etor, September  25,  1828.  Plat  recorded 
in  Vol.  7,  page  14,  Record  of  Deeds. 

GREENVILLE 

(Now  in  Darke  County)  was  laid  out 
by  John  Devor  and  Robert  Gray,  proprie- 
tors, August  10,  1808.  Plat  recorded  Vol. 
1,  page  15,  Record  of  Deeds. 

HARDIN 

(Now  in  Shelby  County)  was  laid  out 
by  James  Lenox,  proprietor,  October  12, 
1816.  Plat  recorded  in  Vol.  3,  page  83, 
Record  of  Deeds. 

HYATTSVILLE 

(Now  a part  of  Tippecanoe)  was  laid 


out  May  4,  1833.  Plat  recorded  in  Vol.  10, 
page  285,  Record  of  Deeds. 

HUNTERSVILLE 

(Now  a part  of  Piqua)  was  laid  out  by 
David  Hunter,  January  5,  1838.  Plat  re- 
corded Vol.  15,  page  586,  Record  of  Deeds. 

LENA 

(Formerly  Elizabethtown)  was  laid  out 
by  Levi  N.  Robbins,  proprietor,  October 
29,  1831.  Plat  recorded  in  Vol.  9,  page 
15,  Record  of  Deeds. 

LAURA 

Was  laid  out  by  Riley  McCool  and  John 
W.  Sharp,  proprietors,  June  7,  1852.  Plat 
recorded  Vol.  1,  page  13,  Record  of  Plats. 

LUDLOW  FALLS 

Was  laid  out  by  Samuel  B.  Smith,  pro- 
prietor, May  16,  1882.  Plat  recorded  Vol. 
2,  page  24,  Record  of  Plats. 

MILTON 

Was  laid  out  by  Joseph  Evans,  propri- 
etor, May  6,  1807,  before  this  County  was 
organized  and  separated  from  Montgom- 
ery County,  and  the  original  plat  of  same 
is  of  record  in  Montgomery  County.  Copy 
of  said  original  plat  recorded  in  Vol.  1, 
page  161,  Record  of  Plats  of  Miami 
County. 

MIAMI  CITY 

Was  laid  out  by  Michael  G.  Carver,  Levi 
Hart  and  William  B.  Vandeveer,  owner, 
January  11,  1850.  Plat  was  recorded  Vol. 
25,  page  453,  Record  of  Deeds. 

NEW  JEFFERSON 

(Now  a part  of  Covington)  was  laid  out 
by  Robert  and  William  Robinson,  propri- 
etors, August  29,  1828.  Plat  recorded  in 
Vol.  6,  page  522,  Record  of  Deeds. 

NASHVILLE 

(Vacated  by  decree  of  Court  at  August 
Term,  1841)  was  laid  out  by  David  Byr- 
kett  and  Jacob  Sheets,  proprietors,  Aug. 


370 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


1,  1820.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  4,  page  229, 
Record  of  Deeds. 

NEWTON 

(Now  known  as  Pleasant  Hill)  was  laid 
out  by  Jacob  K.  Teeter,  September  13, 
1843.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  20,  page  551, 
Record  of  Deeds. 

NEW  LEBANON 

Was  laid  out  by  John  Holsapple,  George 
Hatfield,  David  Longanecker,  Joseph  B. 
Carroll,  Benjamin  Longanecker,  David 
Fetters,  Daniel  Snyder  and  John  Ditmer, 
proprietors,  May  19,  1845.  Plat  recorded 
Vol.  21,  page  738,  Record  of  Deeds. 

PLEASANT  HILL 

(Formerly  Newton)  was  incorporated 
April  9,  1866.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  1,  page 
131  and  132,  Record  of  Plats. 

PIQUA 

(Originally  called  Washington)  was 
laid  out  by  John  Manning  and  Matthew 
Caldwell  August  28,  1807.  Plat  recorded 
Vol.  1,  pages  1 and  2,  Record  of  Deeds. 

PHONETON 

Was  laid  out  December  18,  1907.  Plat 
recorded  Vol.  2,  page  239,  Record  of  Plats. 

ROSSVILLE 

Was  laid  out  by  William  Knowles, 
March  20,  1841.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  19, 
page  98,  Record  of  Deeds. 

REDMAN 

(Now  a part  of  Covington)  was  laid 
out  by  J.  R.  Shuman,  owner,  February  19, 
1877.  Plat  recorded  in  Vol.  1,  page  377, 
Record  of  Plats. 

STAUNTON 

Was  laid  out  by  John  Smith  August  23, 
1806,  prior  to  the  separation  of  Miami 
from  Montgomery  County,  and  original 
plat  of  same  is  of  record  in  said  County 
of  Montgomery.  Copy  of  Plat  recorded 


in  Vol.  1,  page  160,  Miami  County  Record 
of  Plats. 

TROY 

Was  laid  out  December  16,  1807.  Plat 
recorded  in  Vol.  1,  page  3,  Record  of 
Deeds. 

TIPPECANOE 

Was  laid  out  by  John  Clark,  proprietor, 
April  13,  1840.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  18, 
page  355,  Record  of  Deeds. 

VICTORY 

(Now  vacated)  was  laid  out  by  John 
Brown  proprietor,  May  6,  1839.  Plat  re- 
corded Vol  17,  page  327,  Record  of  Deeds. 

WEST  COVINGTON 

Was  laid  out  by  J.  R.  Shuman,  June  12, 
1869.  Plat  recorded  Vol.  1,  page  210, 
Record  of  Plats. 

Staunton  and  Milton  are  shown  to  be 
the  oldest  towns  in  the  County,  having 
been  laid  out  prior  to  the  organization  of 
this  County  and  its  separation  from  Mont- 
gomery County,  wherein  the  original  plats 
of  said  towns  are  of  record. 

ROSTER  OF  COUNTY  OFFICIALS 
1807—1918 

TREASURERS 

Andrew  Wallace,  William  Brown,  John 
G.  Telford,  Jacob  Knoop,  William  C. 
Knight,  Andrew  Patterson,  George  S. 
Murray,  George  C.  Clyde,  M.  D.  Mitchell, 
A.  L.  McKinney,  S.  D.  Frank,  Theodore 
Sullivan,  John  A.  McCurdy,  D.  W.  Sinks, 
S.  N.  Todd,  George  H.  Rundle,  J.  C.  Ullery, 
John  Prugh,  E.  J.  Eby,  Jesse  Burkett,  C. 
W.  Kiser,  R.  N.  Burwell,  H.  E.  Scott  and 
Clarence  Marr. 

AUDITORS 

H.  W.  Culbertson,  David  Grosvenor, 
Thomas  S.  Barrett,  Jacob  Knoop,  B.  F. 
Powers,  Thomas  B.  Kyle,  James  Nesbitt, 
C.  N.  Hoagland,  J.  W.  Defrees,  R.  J.  Doug- 
las,. George  C.  Clyde,  N.  C.  Clyde,  Eli  Ten- 


THEODORE  SULLIVAN 

The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  of  Irish  extraction.  His  grandfather,  James,  first  settled  in  the 
South,  then  moved  to  Clark  county,  Ohio,  where  Samuel  Sullivan,  the  father  of  Theodore,  was  born. 
Samuel  married  Marie  Crook,  a sister  of  Gen.  Crook,  of  Civil  War  and  Indian  fighting  fame,  from  which 
union,  ten  children  were  born,  of  which  Theodore  was  the  third,  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  He 
attended  the  local  schools.  Linden  Hill  academy,  in  New  Carlisle,  and  Antioch  at  Yellow  Springs.  When 
21  years  of  age,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  for  some  years,  connected 
with  C.  L.  Vallandingham  and  John  A.  McMahon.  In  1865,  he  married  Miss  M.  J.  S.  Seager,  of  Indiana, 
whose  people  originally  came  to  America  from  Birmingham,  England.  Mr.  Sullivan’s  father  owned  the 
linseed  oil  mills  of  Tippecanoe,  to  which  place  Theodore  moved  in  1867  to  assist  his  father.  In  1872,  he 
was  elected  treasurer  of  Miami  county  and  served  in  that  position  until  1876,  when  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  the  law,  in  which  profession,  as  an  attorney  at  the  bar  or  as  a judge  on  the  bench,  he  remained  until 
his  death  on  September  10,  1910.  He  was  an  industrious  lawyer,  devoting  great  care  in  the  preparation  of 
his  cases,  which  he  invariably  presented  in  a cool  and  dignified  manner,  much  in  contradistinction  to  some 
of  his  contemporaries  who  were  wont  to  indulge  in  bluster  and  theatrcal  behavior.  His  choice  of  words 
before  the  judge  and  jury  were  marked  by  a simplicity  that  could  be  easily  grasped  and  which  always 
maintained  the  close  attention  of  his  hearers. 

In  1891,  he  became  a candidate  before  the  Republican  delegate  convention  for  nomination  as  common 
pleas  judge  of  Miami  county.  At  this  time,  I lived  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  and  was  called  back  to  Troy 
to  assist  him  in  his  campaign,  in  which  he  was  successful  both  in  the  convention  and  in  the  succeeding 
election.  He  served  with  distinction  to  himself  and  Miami  county  in  this  capacity  for  a period  of  eight 
years,  when  he  was  called  to  the  higher  bench  of  the  circuit  court,  where  he  served  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  in  office.  His  conception  of  the  honor  and  purity  attached  to  the  judicial  ermine  was  as  high 
as  that  of  John  Marshall,  the  great  first  chief  justice  and  no  act  of  his  on  the  bench  was  ever  known  to 
lower  that  high  standard.  Off  of  the  bench,  he  was  a choice  spirit  in  wit,  repartee  and  rencounter.  He 
was  fond  of  music  and  poetry,  indulging  in  both  in  the  hours  of  genial  companionship.  Walter  Seager 
Sullivan,  his  son,  for  years  a prominent  business  man  of  New  York  City,  was  born  May  24.  1866,  and 
Horace,  the  second  son,  was  born  September  24,  1873,  and  died  April  15,  1877. 


THE  HOME  OF  CHARLES  J.  HARR,  209  WEST  FRANKLIN  ST.,  TROY,  O. 

If  there  are  any  better  neighbors  than  Charley  Harr,  his  wife  and  accomplished  daughter,  Grace, 
my  wife  and  I have  not  found  them  and  do  not  believe  they  exist. 


THE  HOME  OF  CHAS.  W.  TOBEY,  221  WEST  FRANKLIN  STREET,  TROY,  OHIO 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  on  June  17,  1855  and  lived  with  his  father  and 
mother,  Nathaniel  and  Martha  Jane  Worman  Tobey,  until  their  death.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Dayton  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Troy.  He  graduated 
from  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  in  1876  and  became  a partner  of  his  father  in  the  drug  business 
in  Troy,  and  continued  in  the  same  room  for  the  past  42  years.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Ohio 
Pharmaceutical  Association  of  which  he  was  chairman  of  the  first  executive  committee.  He  was  the  first 
delegate  of  that  body  to  the  National  Retail  Druggists  Association.  He  was  twice  appointed  to  the  Ohio 
State  Board  of  Examiners  for  pharmacists.  He  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  of  the  Island  Outing 
Club.  On  May  13,  1879,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Ella  Reed,  a daughter  of  Browning  Reed,  whose  mother 
was  a daughter  of  Daniel  Babb,  heretofore  referred  to  in  this  work.  His  family  worship  at  the  First 
Presbyterian  church.  H is  a Knight  Templar  and  a Knight  of  Pythias  and  J.  O.  O.  A.  W.  Like  most  of 
the  successful  business  men,  he  possesses  a farm  in  which  he  takes  an  intelligent  interest. 

Mr.  Tobey  possesses  one  of  the  wonderful  Bibles  of  the  world,  published  in  Germany  in  1634  and  in  an 
excellent  state  of  preservation.  The  original  owner  was  a German  Huguenot  Lutheran  preacher  and  a 
rebel  general,  a Tobey  ancestor,  who  escaped  to  England  and  came  in  the  Mayflower  to  Cape  Cod.  This 
Bible  descended  through  all  the  centuries  to  the  youngest  son,  until  it  reached  Nathaniel  Tobey,  the  father 
of  Chas.  W.,  who  was  an  only  son.  My  personal  information  is  that  there  is  but  one  older  Bible  in  the 
United  States,  now  in  the  University  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Since  my  friend  Charles  lives  three  doors  from  me  on  the  same  street,  and  being  a plain  man  with  few 
frills,  he  would  not  thank  me  to  write  anything  connected  with  his  name,  except  plain  unvarnished  facts. 
Few  men  are  now  in  business  in  Troy  who  commenced  as  early  as  he  and  none  have  a higher  character  for 
honorable  transaction. 


THE  HOME  OF  OGDEN  EDWARDS 
Peters  Ave.,  Troy,  Ohio 

Eight  generations  ago,  William  Edwards  married  Agnes  Spencer  and  settled  at  Hartford.  Conn., 
about  1645.  Their  son  Richard  married  Elizabeth  Tuttle  of  New  Haven.  The  son  of  Richard  was 
graduated  at  Hartford  in  1691  and  preached  at  East  Windsor  until  1753  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  89 
years. 

His  son  Jonathan  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1720  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  preached  at 
North  Hampton,  Massachusetts,  until  1750.  He  was  elected  President  of  Princeton  College  in  1768.  Robert 
Hall  says  “I  consider  Jonathan  Edwards  as  the  greatest  of  the  sons  of  men.  He  ranks  with  the  brightest 
luminaries  of  the  Christian  Church,  not  excluding  any  country  or  any  age<  since  the  Apostles.’  Sir 
James  McIntosh  said  of  him,  ‘'This  remarkable  man  was  the  metaphysician  of  America.  His  power  of 
subtle  argument,  perhaps  unmatched,  certainly  unsurpassed  among  men,  was  joined,  as  in  some  ancient 
mystics,  with  a character  that  raised  his  piety  to  fever  heat."  His  treatise  on  ‘‘The  Nature  of  True 
Virtue”  and  other  works  elicited  high  praise  from  Lord  Kairnes  and  other  distinguished  scholars  and 
was  read  throughout  America. 

Timothy  Edward,  a son  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  was  married  Sept.  2'5,  1760,  to  Rhoda  Oeden 
and  died  in  1813.  His  sister  married  Rev.  Aaron  Burr  and  thus  became  the  mother  of  Aaron  Burr,  Vice- 
president  of  the  United  States.  Jonathan  Edwards,  a son  of  Timothy,  was  born  Oct.  10,  1764  and  died 
August  31,  1832.  He  married  Lucy  Woodbridge,  Nov.  20,  1778,  and  their  son,  Mathias  O.,  was  born  April 
8,  1793,  and  died  June  25,  1843.  He  wedded  Sarah  Bradley  Oct.  12,  1815.  His  son  Jonathan  O.  Edwards 
was  born  at  Birmingham,  New  York,  on  August  13,  1825,  and  accompanied  his  father  to  Youngstown,  Ohio. 
His  death  occurred  in  Troy,  August  4,  1897.  He  enjoyed  a national  reputation  as  a breeder  of  Merino 
sheep  and  short  horn  cattle.  He  was  married  May  19th,  1859,  to  Joanna  W.  Allen,  vyho  was  born  at  Ells- 
worth, Ohio,  March  8,  1827.  His  son.  Ogden  Edwards,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Youngstown. 
Ohio,  August  29,  1860,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city  and  at  Rayen  College.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Kate  King  on  Dec.  7,  1893,  from  which  union  three  children  have  been  born,  Jona- 
than Ogden,  April  2,  1895,  Elmore  King  August  10,  1897,  Frederick  Andrews  July  19,  1901. 

Mr.  Edwards  came  to  Troy  in  1890  and  conductedthe  grain  elevator  at  the  C.  H.  & D;  tracks  and  one 
at  his  mills,  a mile  south  of  Troy  which  he  conducted  for  twenty  years  in  connection  with  manufacturing 
flour  and  corn  meal  and  conducting  his  farm. 

His  position  in  the  community  is  in  consonance  with  his  illustrious  parentage.  He  and  his  family 
worship  at  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  now  ranks  himself  as  a farmer. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


375 


ney,  W.  I.  Tenney,  C.  C.  Barnett,  Horatio 
Pearson,  Boyd  E.  Furnas,  Elmer  E.  Pear- 
son, Albert  E.  Sinks,  M.  T.  Staley,  C.  N. 
Peters. 

COMMON  PLEAS  JUDGES 

R.  S.  Hart,  Ebenezer  Parsons,  Iehabod 
Corwin,  Robert  C.  Fulton,  Geo.  D.  Bur- 
gess, H.  H.  Williams,  Calvin  D.  Wright, 
Theodore  Sullivan,  Walter  D.  Jones. 

CLERKS  OF  THE  COURT 

Cornelius  Westfall,  John  G.  Telford, 
Thomas  J.  S.  Smith,  Benjamin  W.  Leavell, 
Barton  S.  Kyle,  Charles  V.  Royce,  Smith 
Talbott,  J.  W.  Cruikshank,  John  B.  Latch- 
ford,  J.  B.  Fouts,  Abbott  E.  Childs,  E.  A. 
Jackson,  J.  H.  Landis,  Cloyd  Smith, 
Brooks  Johnson. 

PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS 

The  last  history  of  Miami  County  gives 
E.  Adams  as  the  first  man  who  held  this 
office,  whereas  the  first  one  was  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  who  was  the  first  Governor  of 
Ohio  and  who  was  followed  by  Isaac  G. 
Burnett.  E.  Adams,  Arthur  St.  Clair, 
William  I.  Thomas,  Thomas  S.  Barrett, 
Ralph  S.  Hart,  Ebenezer  Parsons,  H.  G. 
Sellers,  M.  H.  Jones,  James  T.  Janvier, 
Walter  S.  Thomas,  W.  F.  Ross,  H.  H.  Wil- 
liams, C.  D.  Wright,  Moses  B.  Earnhart, 
Samuel  Jones,  Thomas  B.  Kyle,  J.  Harri- 
son Smith,  Alva  B.  Campbell,  William  E. 
Lytle,  J.  Guy  O’Donnell,  Frank  C.  Good- 
rich, Raymond  Kerr. 

PROBATE  JUDGES 

The  last  history  of  Miami  County  gives 
Joseph  Pearson  as  the  first  one  to  fill  the 
office,  whereas  the  new  constitution  of 
1852,  first  providing  for  this  office,  it  was 
filled  by  Benjamin  F.  Powers  until  1854, 
when  Mr.  Pearson  completed  his  four-year 
term  as  Sheriff  and  was  elected  to  the  po- 
sition of  Probate  Judge  for  the  term  of 
three  years  and  re-elected  in  1857,  going 
out  of  the  office  in  1861,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded as  follows:  Samuel  Davis,  W.  N. 


Foster,  A.  L.  McKinney,  W.  C.  Johnston, 
W.  J.  Clyde,  John  C.  Geyer,  William 
Freshour,  J.  Harrison  Smith,  E.  W.  Maier 
and  L.  E.  St.  John. 

Judge  William  M.  Rockel  says: 

“Considering  the  vast  interests  to  be 
adjudicated  upon  by  this  Court,  and  the 
very  great  confidence  and  trust  placed  in 
the  person  occupying  the  position  of  Pro- 
bate Judge  by  persons  interested  in  the 
administration  of  estate  and  like  affairs  of 
a trust  character,  the  position  ought  to  be 
occupied  not  only  by  a man  of  good  legal 
training,  but  of  a very  high  moral  char- 
acter.” 

REPRESENTATIVES 

Arthur  Stewart,  Fielding  Lowrey,  Jo- 
seph Evans,  James  Blue,  T.  W.  Furnas, 
Samuel  Kyle,  Robert  Montgomery,  Asa 
Coleman,  James  Fergus,  John  P.  Finley, 
William  Mendenhall,  Leander  Munsell, 
William  Fielding,  John  McCorlde,  William 
Barbee,  Amos  Perry,  JohnWilson,  Thomas 
J.  Smith,  Stacey  Taylor,  Hiram  Bell,  John 
Briggs,  Justin  Hamilton,  Thomas  Shidler, 
John  McClure,  David  Alexander,  James 
Bryson,  J.  W.  Riley,  David  H.  Morris, 
Stephen  Johnston,  Joseph  Potter,  W.  A. 
Weston,  Tansy  Julian,  Joseph  Worley, 
Henry  S.  Mayo,  Augustus  Fenner,  Levi  N. 
Booher,  Eli  Tenney,  M.  H.  Jones,  V/.  B. 
McClung,  S.  E.  Brown,  J.  H.  Randall,  Da- 
vid Alexander,  J.  C.  Ullery,  J.  P.  William- 
son, George  C.  Clyde,  Joseph  E.  Pearson, 
Samuel  Sullivan,  M.  W.  Hays,  D.  M.  Mur- 
ry, Noah  H.  Albaugh,  John  A.  Sterrett, 
instead  of  James  A.,  in  the  last  County 
history ; Van  S.  Deaton,  John  A.  McCurdy, 
W.  I.  Tenney,  H.  J.  Ritter,  Van  S.  Deaton 
and  Lorin  E.  Pearson. 

SENATORS 

The  Counties  of  Darke,  Miami  and 
Shelby  have  constituted  the  Twelfth  Sen- 
atorial District  of  Ohio  since  the  consti- 
tution of  1852.  This  County  has  been  hon- 
ored by  William  I.  Thomas,  John  W.  Mor- 


37fc 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


ris,  A.  C.  Cable,  Jennison  Hall  and  George 
S.  Long. 

CONGRESSMEN 

Miami  County  has  furnished  the 
following  Congressmen:  William  Mc- 

Lean, J.  F.  McKinney,  Robert  M.  Murray, 
Elihu  S.  Williams,  Martin  K.  Gantz  and 
Thos.  B.  Kyle. 

COMMISSIONERS 

William  Barbee,  Henry  Gerard,  James 
McCorkle,  James  Naylor,  Alexander  Ew- 
ing, Thomas  Coppock,  Alexander  McNutt, 
James  Fergus,  John  Wilson,  William  Men- 
denhall, James  Orr,  James  Johnston,  Oli- 
ver Benton,  Hugh  Scott,  William  Wiley, 
Robert  Morrison,  Michael  Williams,  James 
Brown,  E.  P.  Davis,  Samuel  Pierce,  Rich- 
ard Morrow,  Jacob  Knoop,  Sr.,  Samuel 
Kelley,  W.  C.  Knight,  William  Elliott,  D. 
H.  Morris,  Isaac  Sheets,  William  Scott, 
J.  N.  Wolcott,  Jacob  Knoop,  James  B. 
Rose,  Abner  Jones,  Ralph  Peterson,  B.  F. 
Brown,  Howard  Mitchell,  Jeremiah  Fen- 
ner, Jacob  Rohrer,  J.  C.  Coate,  James 
Sims,  Jr.,  D.  M.  Houser,  Nathan  Jackson, 
James  Saylor,  D.  M.  Coate,  Isaac  Clyne, 
W.  H.  Northcutt,  D.  C.  Bronson,  William 
Johnston,  Edmund  Lewis,  John  W.  Wid- 
ney,  John  C.  Henderson,  John  T.  Knoop, 
David  C.  Statler,  B.  B.  Scarff,  S.  D.  Frank, 
W.  H.  Alexander,  Robert  Martindale,  Hav- 
ilah  Coppock,  Ira  T.  Jackson,  B.  F.  Smith, 
J.  B.  Studebaker,  W.  G.  Wilson,  W.  B. 
Segner,  J.  E.  Anderson,  Thomas  C.  Brown, 
Jos.  M.  Fink,  Chas.  H.  Jackson,  Oscar  W. 
Pearson,  B.  S.  Levering,  C.  M.  Hunt.  The 
Board  sitting  in  1918  are  as  follows:  Chas. 
H.  Jackson,  Chas.  W.  Jensen  and  John 
McCandless. 

SHERIFFS 

From  1907  to  1910  Stephen  Dye,  1810  to 
L.  Munsell,  1822  to  1826  R.  Culbertson, 
1812  T.  W.  Furnas,  1812  to  1816  Stephen 
Dye,  1816  to  1820  Levi  Hart,  1820  to  1822 
1826  to  1832  T.  W.  Furnas,  1832  to  1836 
John  Shideler,  1836  to  1839  Joseph  De 


Frees,  1839  to  1841  T.  W.  Furnas,  1841 
to  1846  Stephen  Johnston,  1846  to  1850 
Thomas  Jay,  1850  to  1854  Joseph  Pearson, 
1854,  J.  M.  Roe.  From  the  August  term, 

1854  to  the  October  term  1855,  Daniel 
Ellis,  Coroner,  acted  as  Sheriff;  October, 

1855  to  1860,  S.  E.  Hustler;  1860  to  1863, 
(December  term),  J.  Hart;  1863  (Decem- 
ber term),  Joseph  C.  Horton,  Coroner, 
Acting  Sheriff ; 1864  to  1866  C.  T.  Baer, 
1866  to  1870  S.  D.  Frank,  1870  to  1874 
William  Evans,  1874  to  1878  D.  L.  Lee, 
1878  to  1882  D.  C.  Miller,  1882  to  1886 
J.  M.  Campbell,  1886  to  1890  A.  M.  Hey- 
wood,  1890  to  1894  T.  W.  Ashworth,  1894 
to  1898  E.  M.  Wilbee,  1898  to  1902  F.  E. 
Scobey,  1902  to  1906  W.  E.  Rogers,  1906 
to  1911  R.  H.  Gibson,  1911  to  1915  Louis 
Paul,  1915  to  1918  Joe  Barnett. 

In  the  last  history  of  Miami  County 
Levi  Hart  is  made  to  serve  from  1812  to 
1816,  whereas  it  was  Stephen  Dye  who 
served  during  that  period,  and  Hart 
served  between  1816  and  1820.  John 
Shidler  is  made  to  serve  from  1826  to  1832 
whereas  it  was  T.  W.  Furnas  who  served 
during  that  period,  and  John  Shidler 
served  from  1832  to  1836.  Stephen  Johns- 
ton is  made  to  serve  from  1841 
to  1846,  whereas  it  was  46  to  50 
while  T.  W.  Furnas  served  in  41-46. 
From  the  March  term  to  the  August  term 
of  1854,  the  records  show  a vacancy.  The 
last  County  history  makes  Daniel  Ellis 
the  Sheriff  in  1854,  whereas  Mr.  Ellis  was 
never  Sheriff,  but  as  Coroner  of  Miami 
County,  at  the  October  term  of  1854,  he 
acted  as  Sheriff.  The  former  history  of 
the  County  does  not  mention  Simon  E. 
Hustler  as  having  held  the  office  of  Sheriff, 
and  yet  he  was  elected  in  1855  and  served 
until  1860.  In  the  last  history  of  Miami 
County  no  mention  is  made  of  the  fact 
that  J.  C.  Horton,  Coroner,  served  as 
Sheriff  during  the  December  term  of  1863. 

SURVEYORS 

Armstrong  Brandon,  Fielding  Lowrey, 
Andrew  Wallace,  Daniel  Hoover,  B.  S. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


377 


Cox,  John  Devor,  James  Creegan,  William 
R.  Flinn,  J.  T.  Tullis,  Simon  Loop,  James 
Hanks,  John  H.  Wolcott,  Jacob  Knoop, 
John  B.  Fish,  William  Giffin,  J.  E.  Alex- 
ander, John  N.  Rouzer,  A.  C.  Buchanan, 

E.  P.  Kellogg,  H.  O.  Evans,  R.  F.  Walker, 
John  W.  Dowler,  Harry  J.  Walker,  H.  E. 
Whitlock,  Louis  P.  Knoop,  Maurice  A. 
Gantz. 

INFIRMARY  DIRECTORS 
The  last  history  of  Miami  County  makes 
James  McKaig,  Jacob  Counts  and  Asa 
Coleman  as  the  first  three,  whereas  it  was 
Joseph  R.  John,  Joseph  Culbertson  and 
Joseph  M.  Skinner.  The  historical  fact 
being  established  by  the  Journal  of  the 
Commissioners  on  January  20,  1840,  the 
first  report  of  these  directors  will  be  found 
in  Vol.  4,  page  202  of  the  journal.  Four 
years  afterward  the  report  was  signed  by 
A.  W.  McNabb.  It  was  after  this  date 
that  the  three  first  named  gentlemen 
served,  and  then  George  Throckmorton, 
David  Huston,  S.  M.  Dickson,  William  H. 
Gahagan,  James  H.  Pea,  John  D.  DeWeese, 
Geo.  B.  Frye,  Jacob  Knoop,  William  Ham- 
ilton, S.  A.  Cairns,  Stephen  Genslinger, 
Joseph  Bains,  B.  N.  Langston,  Samuel 
Bowerman,  John  E.  Anderson,  Harrison 
Gear,  I.  M.  Aspinall,  E.  E.  Thompson,  E. 

F.  Sayres,  L.  L.  Speagh,  William  E.  Fos- 
ter Frank  Beck,  Havilah  Coppock,  J.  W. 
Underwood. 

CORONERS 

The  last  history  of  Miami  County  states 
that  J.  W.  Means  was  the  first  coroner  and 
follows  him  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Calvin,  Dr. 
Charles  Gaines,  Dr.  John  Beamer  and  Dr. 
Van  S.  Deaton.  Since  the  predecessor  of 
Dr.  Means  was  Dr.  John  G.  Senior  and  his 
predecessor  was  Dr.  Van  S.  Deaton,  and 
his  predecessor  was  Dr.  L.  E.  Kitzmiller, 
who  served  for  a dozen  years  and  since 
we  have  shown  that  Danniel  Ellis  was 
Coroner  in  1854,  acting  Sheriff  for  J.  M. 
Roe,  resigned,  and  that  both  John  Hart 
and  Joseph  C.  Horton  were  acting  Sher- 
iffs, in  the  December  term  of  1863,  and  the 


further  fact  that  the  constitution  of  1802 
provided  specifically  for  the  election  of  a 
Coroner,  and  that  therefore  ther  had  been 
Coroners  elected  for  79  years  before  Dr. 
Means  was  elected,  we  are  led  to  exclaim, 
our  friend  did  not  “dig”  very  deep  in  that 
particular  historical  field. 

RECORDERS 

Cornelius  Westfall,  William  Barbee, 
Zachariah  Riley,  Geo.  D.  Burgess,  J.  Wid- 
ener,  J.  P.  Williamson,  Hiram  M.  Lukens, 
George  Green,  Isaac  A.  Landis,  E.  J.  Eby, 
J.  O.  Davis,  J.  C.  Moore,  Clarkson  Coate, 
Perry  Moyer,  B.  S.  Mohler  and  Barton 
Baker. 

THE  FIRST  GRAND  JURY 

The  following  Grand  Jury  was  impan- 
eled in  1807 : James  Blue,  foreman ; James 
L.  McKinney,  Henry  Orbison,  Joseph  Mc- 
Korkle,  Daniel  Knoop,  Theodore  Sanders, 
Michael  Blue,  Matthew  Caldwell,  John 
Huston,  William  Miller,  Andrew  Dye,  Jr., 
John  Wallace,  John  Jenkins,  James  You- 
art,  with  Isaac  Holt  as  Constable.  The 
first  indictments  found  by  the  Grand  Jury 
were  against  George  Overpeck  and  Alonzo 
Shaw,  both  for  assault  and  battery.  S.  S. 
McKinney  was  the  first  attorney  in  Piqua, 
and  William  I.  Thomas  the  first  in  Troy. 

The  following  interesting  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  Court  was  held  in  that 
early  day  has  been  written  by  M.  H.  Jones, 
from  whom  a facsimile  letter  is  repro- 
duced in  this  book : 

“On  one  occasion  the  Court  came  to 
Troy  in  their  buggy  in  the  evening,  and 
went  to  the  Court  House  and  got  all  the 
papers  in  all  the  cases  from  the  Clerk, 
read  them  and  considered  them  in  their 
room  at  the  hotel  that  night,  decided  them, 
putting  a slip  in  each  package  announcing 
their  decision,  took  them  back  to  the  Clerk 
before  breakfast  the  next  morning,  called 
his  attention  to  their  decisions  and  told 
the  Clerk  to  tell  all  the  lawyers  when  they 
came  in  and  after  an  early  breakfast  they 
started  in  their  buggy  to  hold  Court  in  the 


378 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


next  County.  You  can  imagine  the  pious 
ejaculations  of  the  lawyers  when  they 
came  into  Court  to  try  their  cases.” 

In  1816  was  tried  the  murder  case  of  a 
man  named  Armstrong,  and  sentenced  to 
be  hung,  but  was  afterward  commuted  to 
a term  of  imprisonment. 

In  1855  Mrs.  Jane  Elizabeth  Ragan  of 
Piqua  was  tried  for  the  murder  of  her  hus- 
band, with  Ralph  S.  Hart  on  the  bench  and 
M.  H.  Jones  as  Prosecuting  Attorney,  as- 
sisted by  Ebenezer  Parsons.  The  defense 
was  conducted  by  John  A.  Corwin,  of  Ur- 
bana,  James  S.  Hart  and  S.  S.  McKinney, 
and  although  there  was  no  doubt  of  her 
guilt  the  jury  returned  a verdict  of  ‘‘not 
guilty.” 

In  the  summer  of  1859,  the  Hobatta 
murder  case  was  tried  which  resulted  in 
a penitentiary  sentence  and  his  pardon 
after  11  years. 

In  1880,  George  Mitchell,  colored,  was 
indicted  for  the  murder  of  his  wife,  before 
H.  H.  Williams  on  the  bench  and  Moses 
B.  Earnhart,  Prosecutor.  He  was  found 
guilty  and  hung  in  an  enclosure  on  the 
northwest  side  of  the  Court  House,  by 
Daniel  C.  Miller,  Sheriff,  on  September 
17,  1880.  As  a witness  of  that  execution, 
I was  gratified  when  the  law  was  changed 
providing  that  ail  executions  should  take 
place  in  the  penitentiary  at  Columbus. 

In  1893  Jefferson  Shank  was  tried  for 
the  murder  of  his  wife  before  Theodore 
Sullivan  as  Judge  and  Thomas  B.  Kyle, 
Prosecutor,  and  was  sentenced  to  the  State 
Prison  for  life,  but  becoming  a trusty,  he 
was  soon  afterward  pardoned. 

In  one  hundred  and  eleven  years,  in- 
cluding the  acquittal  of  young  Knoop  in 
1916,  of  the  charge  of  murdering  young 
Favorite,  there  have  been  seven  murder 
trials,  one  execution,  two  State  Prison  sen- 
tences and  four  acquittals. 

THE  RANDOLPH  SLAVES 

John  Randolph,  born  in  Chesterfield 
County,  Va.,  June  2,  1773,  was  a descend- 
ant of  Pocahontas,  inherited  many  slaves, 


but  like  Washington,  provided  for  their 
liberation  in  his  last  testament.  His  po- 
litical persuasions  were  not  well  defined, 
and  his  social  status  was  an  anomalous 
one.  Indeed,  he  has  been  described  as 
an  Ishmaelite — “his  hand  against  every 
man’s  and  every  man’s  hand  against  him.” 
At  his  death  in  1833,  it  was  discovered 
that  he  had  provided  that  a tract  of  land 
in  the  State  of  Ohio  should  be  purchased 
for  his  slaves  numbering  some  200,  but 
on  account  of  a contest,  instituted  by  some 
of  his  heirs  these  colored  people  were  not 
sent  in  Ohio  until  1846,  when,  after  reach- 
ing Cincinnati,  they  traveled  up  the  valley 
and  arrived  at  their  destination  in  Mercer 
County,  but  being  badly  received  there  the 
most  of  them  came  South  and  settled  in 
Piqua,  Troy  and  in  Union  Township  of 
Miami  County,  where  several  hundred  of 
their  descendants  now  live,  most  of  whom 
are  good  and  well-to-do  citizens.  These 
people  are  supposed  to  have  a good  title 
to  the  Mercer  County  land,  probably  for- 
feited on  account  of  non-payment  of  taxes 
and  such  other  lapses  as  prevented  them 
from  recovering  possession  after  years  of 
litigation.  These  slaves  were  numbered 
and  described  and  many  of  them  will  be 
found  recorded  in  the  Miami  County  rec- 
ords. Most  of  the  younger  ones  had  trus- 
tees appointed  over  them  and  most  of  the 
older  ones  selected  trustees.  That  portion 
of  them  who  selected  Troy  for  their  home 
arrived  here  in  a canal  boat  and  debarked 
on  Mulberry  Street.  Grandfather  S.  0. 
Binkley  became  the  trustee  of  a coal-black 
boy  who  bore  the  name  of  Watt  Jones,  and 
whom  the  older  residents  of  Troy  will  rec- 
ollect as  a somewhat  novel  character,  and 
for  many  years  had  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing the  only  colored  man  in  Troy  who 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  Both  Mr. 
Binkley  and  his  wife  Julia  had  been 
brought  up  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  in 
North  Carolina  respectively,  and  were  fa- 
miliar with  colored  help.  Grandmother 
Binkley  had  reason  to  doubt  the  honesty 
of  Watt  and  left  a dime  on  the  dining- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


379 


room  table  which  she  found  missing  after 
a visit  there  from  Watt.  She  made  in- 
quiry of  him  about  it  and  he  replied : “In- 
deed, double  trufe,  I kain’t  tell  a lie;  I 
didn’t  take  it.”  Being  sure  he  had  taken 
it,  she  said,  “Watt,  if  you  tell  me  the  truth 
I will  not  punish  you,”  when  Watt  replied, 
“The  cat’s  got  my  tongue,”  whereupon 
Grandma  went  to  the  yard,  and  cutting  a 
peach-tree  switch,  went  back  and  found 
Watt  hiding  under  the  table,  and  she  again 
demanded  the  truth,  and  it  was  then  Watt 
said  to  her,  “Let  me  think  a minute,”  and 
after  cocking  his  head  on  one  side,  with 
seeming  deep  concentration  and  mental 
strain  finally  saw  the  light  and  admitted 
his  peculation.  For  some  years  I was  the 
Chairman  of  the  County  Republican  Com- 
mittee and  fixed  an  evening  to  convince 
Watt  of  the  error  of  his  ways  from  a po- 
litical standpoint.  After  I had  reminded 
him  that  he  could  not  certainly  be  wiser 
than  all  the  rest  of  his  people,  who  in- 
variably voted  the  Republican  ticket,  and 
that  party  had  freed  his  people  from  bond- 
age, and  that  the  immortal  Lincoln  had 
penned  the  document  that  liberated  4,000,- 
000  of  them,  Watt  excitedly  replied  to  me, 
“Hold  on  there,  Frank ! that  isn’t  the  truf. 
Abe  Lincoln  didn’t  free  the  slaves,  Mr. 
Jeff  Davis  freed  the  niggers.  He  brought 
on  the  war  and  that’s  what  freed  ’em.” 
Watt  was  so  manifestly  in  earnest  in  his 
circuitous  reasoning  that  I abandoned  all 
hope  of  his  conversion  thereafter,  and 
when  I would  afterward  tell  the  story  in 
his  presence  as  I often  did,  it  would  at 
once  start  Watt  off  on  a line  of  vindicating 
his  belief. 

On  page  30,  Vol.  42,  Miami  County  Rec- 
ords of  Deeds,  is  the  history  of  the  trus- 
teeship of  Elijah  Coate  and  Andrew  Ste- 
vens, over  sixteen  of  these  Randolph  slaves 
with  a description  of  the  land  which  they 
owned  in  Union  Township. 

On  page  82,  Volume  3,  Miami  County 
Record  of  Deeds,  is  the  following  entry: 

I hereby  certify  that  Amy,  a black  wo- 
man, the  bearer  of  this,  I bought  a slave 


in  Kentucky  when  between  two  and  three 
years  of  age  and  brought  her  to  the  State 
of  Ohio  with  her  mother  and  others ; that 
I gave  her  to  one  of  my  daughters  till  she 
was  eighteen  years  old  and  she  had  served 
her  time  faithfully  and  is  now  legally  free 
from  me  and  all  claiming  under  me.  Given 
under  my  hand  this  27th  day  of  June, 
A.  D„  1816. 

WILLIAM  WOOD. 

WILLIAM  G.  WOOD. 

In  that  day,  and  many  years  afterward, 
slave  catchers  came  into  Miami  County  to 
reclaim  those  who  had  fled  from  bondage, 
and  sometimes  take  those  who  were  actu- 
ally free  into  slavery.  In  1826,  a school 
house  of  bricks  was  erected  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  present  Edwards  school 
house  block,  which  was  afterward  used  by 
the  colored  people  as  a church,  and  after- 
ward occupied  by  a colored  woman  who 
came  to  Troy  unannounced  and  engaged 
in  washing  for  people  and  performing 
such  other  work  as  she  could  procure.  It 
was  noticed  that  she  always  locked  the 
door  after  entering  her  house  and  would 
but  partially  open  it  when  any  one  sought 
admission.  One  day  there  came  riding  up 
Main  Street  two  horsemen,  finely  mounted, 
who  rode  straight  for  the  old  meeting 
house  and  demanded  admission  thereto, 
but  recieving  no  answer  broke  the  door 
down  and  searched  the  house,  to  find  no 
one  in  it,  after  which,  stopping  at  the  ho- 
tel (then  kept  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  Public  Square),  and  drinking  at  the 
bar,  they  proceeded  on  their  return  to 
Kentucky.  The  woman  had  hid  in  a small 
room  in  the  chapel,  which  escaped  the 
attention  of  the  slave  hunters.  After  their 
departure  she  soon  afterward  left  for 
parts  unknown.  For  many  years  before 
the  Civil  War  there  was  in  operation  what 
was  known  as  “The  Underground  Rail- 
road” from  Kentucky  to  Canada.  When 
the  black  man  or  woman,  seeking  freedom, 
crossed  the  Ohio  River  they  had  informa- 
tion as  to  where  the  first  station  was  lo- 


380 


HISTORY  OP  MIAMI  COUNTY 


cated,  and  there  the  agent  transferred  the 
fugitive  to  the  next  station,  usually  after 
night,  and  thus  on  to  liberty.  There  were 
several  stations  in  Miami  County.  The 
Quakers  and  Dunkard  religious  societies, 


who  extensively  populated  the  Stillwater 
Valley,  were  strong  anti-slavery  people, 
and  probably  none  of  them  were  adverse 
to  aiding  these  fugitives. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


The  Piqua  and  Troy  Chapters  of  “The 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution” 
have  located  in  Miami  County,  the  follow- 
ing graves  of  Revolutionary  soldiers : 

John  Campbell,  Forest  Hill  Cemetery. 

Andrew  Small,  Forest  Hill  Cemetery. 

David  Manson,  Brown  School  House 
Cemetery. 

Levi  Munsell,  Fletcher  Cemetery. 

Benjamin  Pegg,  Hilliard  Cemetery. 

Lewis  Boyer,  Wesley  Chapel  Cemetery. 

Miles  Williams,  half  mile  north  of  Lena 
Cemetery. 

Samuel  Mitchell,  McKendree  Chapel 
Cemetery. 

John  Byrns,  McKendree  Chapel  Cem- 
tery. 

Henry  Harter,  McKendree  Chapel  Cem- 
etery. 

Jacob  Counts,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

Joseph  Rollin,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

Samuel  Winans,  Raper  Chapel  Ceme- 
tery. 

Joseph  Moll,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

Daniel  Bailey,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

David  Stewart,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

James  Orr,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

Michael  Miller,  Raper  Chapel  Cemetery. 

Alexander  Telford,  Rose  Hill  Cemetery. 

William  Meredith,  Rose  Hill  Cemetery. 

Aaron  Tullis,  Rose  Hill  Cemetery. 

David  Morris,  Sailors’  Cemetery. 

Covault,  Lost  Creek  Cemetery. 

Andrew  Dye,  Sr.,  Pleasant  Hill  Ceme- 
tery. 

John  Gerard,  Staunton  Cemetery. 

Charles  Carroll,  West  Branch,  Quaker 
Church  Cemetery. 

Joseph  Rollins,  buried  at  Raper  Chapel, 
fought  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Henry 
Harter,  buried  at  McKendree  Chapel, 

381 


spent  the  severe  winter  of  the  revolution 
at  Valley  Forge  with  Washington.  Mi- 
chael Miller,  buried  at  Raper  Chapel, 
fought  under  the  command  of  Lafayette. 

On  July  4,  1837,  there  was  a meeting  of 
all  revolutionary  soldiers  then  living  in 
Miami  County,  held  in  Troy,  at  which  thir- 
teen toasts  were  replied  to,  and  the  Troy 
guard  led  the  parade,  and  the  ladies  laid 
a table  to  accommodate  one  hundred 
guests. 

Miami  County  in  the  War  of  1812 

Unless  a battle  was  fought  within  the 
limits  of  the  county,  or  it  resulted  in  the 
settlement  of  the  same,  or  it  was  com- 
manded by  some  one  who  became  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  county,  a county 
history  cannot  be  considered  a proper  me- 
dium through  which  to  describe  it.  The 
war  of  1812,  while  not  declared  until  that 
date,  had  its  actual  beginning  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Tippecanoe,  six  miles  north  of  La- 
fayette, Indiana,  in  1811. 

Former  county  history  states  that  Te- 
cumseh,  the  great  Indian  statesman  and 
leader,  commanded  at  that  battle,  which 
was  not  the  case.  The  prophet,  his  brother, 
commanded  in  that  battle,  the  result  of 
which  forever  disgraced  him  in  the  eyes  of 
his  brother  Tecumseh,  and  the  Shawnee 
Indians.  Tecumseh  had  returned  from  his 
mission  among  the  southern  Indians  to  De- 
troit, and  it  was  precisely  for  this  reason 
that  General  Harrison  brought  on  the  bat- 
tle, because  he  knew  Tecumseh  might  re- 
turn any  day. 

There  was  but  one  company  recruited 
in  Miami  County  for  the  war  of  1812. 
Two  forts,  one  at  Piqua  and  one  at  Cov- 
ington, were  erected  on  Miami  County 
soil  during  that  war.  The  company  was 
commanded  by  Captain  George  Buchanan, 


382 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


acting  principally  as  rangers  on  the  fron- 
tier, with  headquarters  at  Ft.  Rowdy,  af- 
terward Ft.  Buchanan,  located  at  Coving- 
ton. The  regular  militia  of  the  county 
was  called  out  several  times  for  short  pe- 
riods as  emergency  seemed  to  require,  even 
for  as  short  a period  as  15  days.  The 
principal  officers  of  the  militia,  who  per- 
formed service  then  was  Major  Charles 
Wolverton,  Captain  Reuben  Westfall,  Cap- 
tain William  Luce  and  Captain  Jacob 
Mann,  the  grandfather  of  our  present  dry 
goods  friend  in  Troy,  Jacob  Mann. 

Notwithstanding  the  unimportant  work 
performed  by  Miami  County  in  a military 
way,  the  most  important  work  of  the 
whole  war  in  the  interest  of  its  successful 
termination  was  performed  within  the  bor- 
ders of  Miami  County,  under  the  authority 
of  the  Government.  John  Johnston  held 
some  6000  Indians,  women  and  children, 
from  various  tribes,  away  from  the  war- 
path at  Upper  Piqua,  at  the  mouth  of  Lora- 
mie  Creek,  and  it  was  the  maintenance  of 
these  Indians,  in  friendly  relations  during 
the  period  of  hostilities,  that  counted  a 
great  deal  toward  the  result.  Councils 
were  held  with  these  Indians  by  Governor 
Meigs  and  United  States  Senator  Jere- 
miah Morrow,  who  kept  them  in  constant 
touch  with  the  President.  During  this 
period  these  Indians  were  largely  fed  and 
clothed  by  the  Government,  and  to  whom, 
also,  many  presents  were  given. 

The  story  of  the  Gerard  and  Dilbone 
murders,  in  August,  1813,  in  Spring  Creek 
Township,  has  been  written  about  in  con- 
nection with  the  war  of  1812,  and  made  to 
appear  as  having  been  brought  about  and 
induced  by  that  conflict,  whereas,  those 
murders  could  have  been  committed  by 
white  men,  so  far  as  the  motive  for  their 
commission  was  concerned.  It  was  an  act 
of  war,  but  was  superinduced  by  a per- 
sonal quarrel  between  Gerard,  Dilbone  and 
the  elder  Indian,  who  was  accompanied  by 
an  Indian  boy.  Daniel  Gerard  lived  four 
miles  north  of  Troy,  on  Spring  Creek,  and 
with  his  neighbor,  Ross,  was  hewing  tim- 


ber a hundred  yards  from  the  house  when 
shot.  Ross  fled  and  gave  the  alarm,  when 
the  Indians  fled  without  disturbing  the 
family.  Since  the  British  Government  was 
at  that  time  offering  a bounty  for  the 
scalps  of  Americans,  it  is  evident  money- 
making did  not  furnish  the  motive.  Two 
miles  further  north,  Dilbone  and  his  wife 
were  pulling  flax,  near  a cornfield  when  at- 
tacked. After  being  shot  Dilbone  ran  and 
hid  and  lived  until  the  evening  of  the  next 
day,  when  discovered.  The  Indian  and  boy 
had  but  one  rifle  between  them  and  after 
killing  Mrs.  Dilbone,  left  that  behind, 
scarcely  to  be  accounted  for  as  the  act  of 
a warrior.  They  were  simply  “bad  In- 
juns” and  took  advantage  of  war  times  to 
commit  an  act  that  had  been  frequently 
committed  by  white  men  before  and  since 
the  Dilbone  crime.  One  of  our  county  his- 
tories, records  Dilbone’s  family  as  the  sec- 
ond one  that  settled  in  Spring  Creek  Town- 
ship, but  this  is  a mistake,  since  the  land 
office  records  show  his  land  was  entered  in 
1813  but  a short  time  before  his  murder. 

The  Mexican  War 

There  was  only  a part  of  a company  re- 
cruited in  Miami  County  for  the  war  with 
Mexico  and  they  were  attached  to  a Day- 
ton  Company.  There  was  a large  per  cent 
of  the  people  here  then  who  viewed  that 
war,  as  Tom  Corwin  did,  when  he  said 
from  his  place  in  Congress:  “If  I were  a 
Mexican  as  I am  an  American,  I would 
welcome  you  with  bloody  hands  to  hospi- 
table graves,”  but  there  are  few  today  who 
entertain  any  other  view  than  that  the  ac- 
quisition of  Texas,  Arizona,  New  Mexico, 
California  and  Nevada  and  a part  of  Colo- 
rado and  Oklahoma  was  an  unmixed  bless- 
ing to  civilization.  These  States,  once  a 
part  of  priest-ridden,  revolutionary  Mex- 
ico, now  contain  12,000,000  of  happy  and 
contented  people.  In  the  galaxy  of  union, 
Texas  is  fifth  in  population.  Her  domain 
is  so  broad  that  when  the  morning  mock- 
ing birds  carol  their  sons  amid  the  dia- 
mond dewdrops  in  the  giant  cypress  trees 


The  Dog  “Trust” 

Supposedly  the  only  dog  in  history  mustered  in  and  out  of  the  United  States  Army.  Trained  by  Samuel  H . 
Shannon,  whose  sketch  and  portrait  appears  on  another  page.  The  discharge  of  "Trust,"  on  next  page,  is  re- 
corded in  the  Court  House  of  Miami  County. 


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Discharge  of  Dog  “Trust 


Form  14. 


GREAT  EASTERN,  WESTERN,  AND  SOUTHERN 

EXPRESS  FORWARDER 


RECEIVED 


G'/Zat/fee/. — 


Which  it  is  mutually  agreed  is  to  lie  forwarded  to  our  Agency  nearest  or  most  convenient^nestination  only, 
It  is  part  of  the  consideration  of  this  contract, 'andvit  is  agreed,  that  the  said  Express  Company  AKK  FORW. 
loss  or  damage  to  said  property  while  being  conveyed  by  tlia.CA  RRIEUS  to  whom  the  same  may  be  by  said  Express 
or  River  Navigation,  Steam,  Fire  in  Stores.  Depots,  or  in  Transit,  Leakage,  Breakage,  or  from  any  cause  whatev 
fraud  or  gross  negligence  of  said  Express  Company,  or  their  servants ; nor  in  any  event  shall  the  holder 
forwarded  is  hereby  valued,  -unless  otherwisp  herein  expressed.'  nr  unless  specially  insured  by  them,  and  so  specified 


delivered  to  other  parties  to  complete  the  transporfati 
(>NI*)\  and  arg  not  to  tie  held  liable  or  responsible  for  any  ( 
g from  the  dangers  of  Railroads,  Ocean  | 
lie  be  proved  to  have  occurred  from  the  1 
I FTY  DOLT, A US.  at  which  the  article 
sura  nee  shall  constitute  the  limit  of  liie  liability 


of  the  Adams  Express  Company..  Ai id  if  the  same  is  intrusted  or  delicrred  to  any  other  Express  Company  or  Ay/mt,  ( irhich  sniil  Adams  Express  Company  are  hereby  authorized  to  do),  such 
Company  or  person  so  selected  shall  be  reyarded  exclusively  as  Hie  agent  of  the  shipper  or  01  cner.  and.  as  such,  alone  liable,  and  the  Adams  Express  Company  shall  not  be  in  any  event  responsible  for 
the  neyligence  or  non- performance  of  any  such  Conivany  or  person;  nor  in  any  event  shall  said  Express  Company  he  liable  for  any  hiss  or  damage  unless  the  claim  therefor  shall  he 
presented  to  them,  in  writing,  at  this  office,  witnin  thirty  days  after  this  date,  in  a statement  to  which  ibis  receipt  shall  be  annexed.  All  articles  of  Cl. ASS,  or  contained  in  Glass,  or 
any  of  a fragile  nature,  will  be  taken  at  Shipper's  risk  only,  and  the  Shipper  agrees  that  the  Company  shall  not  be  held  responsible  for  any  injury  by  breakage  or  otherwise,  nor  for 
damage  to  goods  not  properly  packed  and  secured  for  transportation.  It  i-  further  agreed  that  said  Company  shall  not  in  any  event  be  liable  for  any  loss,  damage  o 
by  the  gets  of  Cod,  Civil  or  Military  Authority,  or  by  Rebellion,  Rim.  y.  Im-urreetion.  or  Riot,  or  the  dangers  ijftident  tovi  tjjue-ff 


Freight, 


For  the  Company, 


EXPRESS  RECEIPT 

For  the  body  of  Jacob  Right  Sterrett,  shot  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  late  in  the  evening  of 
the  second  day’s  fight,  September  20,  1863,  in  the  act  of  capturing  a Confederate  flag. 

W.  W.  Lyle,  to  whom  this  receipt  was  issued  and  who  shipped  the  body,  was  the  well  known  and 
loved  Chaplain  of  that  famous  fighting  organization,  who  just  before  the  beginning  of  that  great 
struggle  addressed  a throne  of  grace,  while  the  regiment  surrounded  him,  with  uncovered  heads. 


THE  KNOOP  CABIN 

Was  erected  in  1800,  on  Section  4,  Staunton  township,  and  still  standing'.  It  was  one  of  the  first 
four  cabins  erected  in  Miami  county,  the  others  being  Peter  Felix  of  Staunton  ; Job  Gard  at  Piqua,  and 
Samuel  Morrison  on  Honey  Creek.  It  is  probable  that  Simon  Landry  had  also  erected  a cabin  at  that 
time  at  Staunton  and  that  David  H.  Morris  also  at  near  the  mouth  of  Honey  Creek. 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


387 


on  her  eastern  border,  the  heights  of  Mont 
Blanco  and  the  plains  of  El  Paso  do  not 
behold  the  god  of  day  for  more  than  an 
hour  afterward.  Thirty  years  ago  Okla- 
homa was  exclusively  owned  and  largely 
populated  by  the  North  American  Indian. 
With  great  leaps  and  bounds,  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  transformations  in  the 
history  of  civilization  transpired  within 
her  borders.  Beautiful  modern  cities  have 
sprung  out  of  her  plains ; her  golden  grain 
fields,  her  white  cotton  fields  and  her  oil  of 
commerce  now  pour  their  rich  treasures 
into  the  laps  of  2.000,000  happy  and  con- 
tented people.  California,  once  the  home 
of  the  Mexican  and  Spanish  grandee,  with 
hacienda  seats,  surrounded  by  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  acres,  has  divided  her  lands 
into  smaller  holdings  now  occupied  by  fru- 
gal husbandmen,  who  have  made  the 
Golden  State  greater  and  richer  than  some 
of  the  kingdoms  of  the  Old  World. 

When  Scott  unfurled  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  over  the  ancient  halls  of  the  Monte- 
zumas,  it  should  have  remained  there  for- 
ever, to  the  end  that  all  of  Mexico  might 
now  be  as  great  as  Texas,  California  and 
■Oklahoma.  There  is  no  reason  in  the 
world,  except  the  reason  of  bad  govern- 
ment, why  Chihuahua,  with  a similar  soil 
and  climate  should  not  be  as  great  as  Texas 
just  across  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion,  which  for  the 
hope  of  abating  sectional  hatred,  is  most 
frequently  referred  to  as  the  Civil  War, 
can  never  be  historically  denominated 
other  than  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  the 
fact  that  the  Government  has  issued  116 
volumes  of  history  that  so  designate  it,  and 
besides,  the  men  of  the  North  and  South 
are  now  fighting  side  by  side  and  shoulder 
to  shoulder  through  a second  war,  common 
to  both,  since  their  tremendous  family 
quarrel,  begetting  as  it  has  a closer  and 
stronger  union  of  these  States  than  ever 
before. 


The  first  gun  fired  at  Fort  Sumpter,  as 
it  rang  around  the  world,  electrified  the 
Puritan  of  the  North  and  the  Cavalier  of 
the  South  into  an  exhibition  of  warlike 
qualities  unknown  to  the  annals  of  the 
ages.  With  a mighty  uprising,  the  civili- 
zation of  Plymouth  Rock  and  the  civiliza- 
tion of  Jamestown  sprang  to  arms  against 
each  other,  in  the  most  destructive  of  all 
modern  wars,  before  the  present  world 
war  now  raging  in  Europe  and  more  espe- 
cially on  the  Belgian  Plains  and  Flanders. 
A battle  line  2000  miles  in  length  was 
formed,  extending  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Rio  Grande  and  behind  that  line  on  one 
side  about  2,250,000  men  fought  to  perpet- 
uate the  Union  founded  by  the  fathers, 
and  about  1,500,000  men  on  the  other  side 
sought  to  destroy  that  Union. 

The  really  vital  issue  involved  in  the 
mighty  struggle  was  whether  slave  labor 
could  continue  to  exist,  side  by  side  with 
the  dignity  of  free  labor  and  that  question 
could  only  be  settled  through  the  seething 
cauldron  of  war  and  it  was  settled,  and 
settled  right  when  all  sections  of  the  Union 
were  started  on  even  terms  and  abreast 
with  each  other  in  the  onward  sweep  of 
civilization. 

It  is  not  my  province  here  to  relate  how 
the  white  flag  waved  over  Donnelson ; how 
our  battalions  stood  like  a wall  of  iron  on 
that  last  day  at  Shiloh ; how  the  waves  of 
the  battle  surged  and  rolled  at  Gettysburg 
amid  the  mightiest  artillery  combat  ever 
before  witnessed  on  this  or  any  other  con- 
tinent ; how  Hooker  fought  above  the 
clouds  at  Lookout;  how  Sherman  marched 
down  to  the  sea ; how  Sheridan,  the  great- 
est cavalry  captain  of  the  age,  rode  on  his 
white  flecked  black  charger  through  this 
historic  valley  of  the  Shenandoah ; how  the 
brave  men  of  the  North  and  the  brave  men 
of  the  South  fought  and  fell  in  many  a 
bloody  angle  and  the  final  triumph  of 
Grant,  the  Silent  Soldier,  at  Appomattox. 


388 


HISTORY  OP  MIAMI  COUNTY 


COL.  STERRETT  CLEARS  UP  DIS- 
PUTE OVER  THE  MEN 

WHO  ENLISTED 


Interesting  Letter  from  J.  F.  Noland  Gives 
Number  in  Each  Regiment  Who  Enlist- 
ed During  Civil  War — Statistics  Also 
Given. 


Troy,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1917. 
Editor  Troy  Daily  Times. 

Howe’s  History  of  Ohio,  gives  the  num- 
ber of  soldiers  from  Miami  County  in  the 
Civil  War  at  5200,  and  this  figure  has  been 
continually  quoted  as  correct  history, while 
I have  in  several  public  addresses,  claimed 
the  number  was  practically  3200. 

The  Piqua  Call  has  been  publishing  let- 
ters recently  written,  of  J.  F.  Noland,  the 
President  of  the  71st  O.  V.  I.  Association, 
and  to  him  I have  written  in  order  that 
this  question  might  be  as  definitely  fixed  as 
possible  in  my  forthcoming  history  of  Mi- 
ami County.  Very  truly, 

FRANK  M.  STERRETT. 


176  East  North  wood  Ave. 

Columbus,  O.,  Sept.  24,  1917. 
Col.  F.  M.  Sterrett,  Troy,  Ohio. 

Dear  Sir — Answering  your  letter  of  the 
16th  received  a few  days  ago,  marked  on 
envelope,  “Delayed  account  incomplete  ad- 
dress,” in  which  you  request  me  to  give 
you  my  estimate  of  the  number  of  men 
serving  in  the  Civil  War  from  Miami 
County,  I respectfully  submit  the  follow- 


ing: 

11th  Ohio  Infantry 479  men 

1st  Ohio  Infantry 104  men 

44th  Ohio  Infantry  and  8th  Cav._460  men 

71st  Ohio  Infantry 400  men 

61st  Ohio  Infantry 60  men 

48th  Ohio  Infantry 100  men 

11th  Ohio  Cavalry 126  men 

8th  Ohio  Battery 80  men 

94th  Ohio  Infantry 300  men 

110th  Ohio  Infantry 300  men 

147th  Ohio  Infantry 853  men 


5th  U.  S.  Colored 50  men 

U.  S.  Navy 50  men 

Total  3362  men 


There  were  four  companies  in  the  11th 
Ohio  from  Miami  County  and  I find  those 
four  companies  have  447  names  on  their 
rolls,  but  I find  also  Company  “E”  was 
broken  up  in  1862  and  a new  company  of 
recruits  took  its  place.  The  men  of  the 
original  “E”  were  assigned  to  other  com- 
panies, and  22  of  them  to  the  Miami  Coun- 
ty companies  which  should  be  subtracted 
from  447  on  their  rolls;  then  four  should 
be  added  because  there  was  at  least  that 
many  of  the  original  field  and  staff  of  the 
regiment  from  Miami  County. 

As  the  109  recruits  in  the  new  company 
“E”  were  obtained  by  reuniting  parties 
from  the  regiment,  sent  to  their  respective 
home  districts,  I estimate  fifty  of  them 
were  from  Miami  County.  As  you  may  see 
I have  given  the  matter  of  the  composition 
of  the  11th  pretty  careful  examination  and 
I think  my  figures  above  given  are  about 
as  near  correct  as  can  be  obtained  by  one 
at  this  late  date,  who  was  not  a member 
of  that  regiment.  You  will  note,  too,  I 
have  increased  the  number  in  the  11th, 
over  the  number  given  in  my  paper  to  the 
Piqua  Call.  I have  also  increased  the  num- 
ber in  the  44th  and  8th  Cavalry  over  the 
Call  statement,  due  to  further  investiga- 
tion. I have  found  there  was  a bunch  of 
men  from  Miami  County  in  the  12th  Ohio 
Cavalry,  but  I have  been  unable  to  ascer- 
tain how  many.  I think  the  company 
which  they  joined  was  from  Shelby  Coun- 
ty. It  has  been  claimed  there  were  some 
men  from  Miami  County  in  the  42d  Ohio. 
The  roster  of  the  42d  in  the  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral’s office  show  where  each  of  its  ten  com- 
panies are  from,  and  none  are  credited  to 
Miami. 

St.  Paris  and  other  places  in  Champaign 
furnished  part  of  one  company  and  some 
of  those  men  may  have  since  made  their 
Sjtf  home  in  Miami  County.  Some  individuals 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


389 


from  Miami  County  no  doubt  served  in 
other  organizations  than  I have  named, 
but  they  are  offset  by  men  from  other 
counties,  serving  in  these  organizations. 
I estimate  three  hundred  men  from  the 
county  served  two  or  more  enlistments. 
Deducting  those  from  the  3300  and  you 
have  about  3200  men  from  the  county  who 
served  in  the  Civil  War. 

As  the  population  of  the  county  in  1860 
was  29,959,  800  of  whom  were  colored,  the 
county  did  well  to  send  3200  to  the  war. 

Very  truly, 

J.  F.  NOLAND. 

There  were  100  men  in  addition  to  Mr. 
Noland’s  list,  members  of  Company  B, 
194th  O.  V.  I.  Amnnc  these  were  John  A. 
McCurdy.  W.  K.  Dunlap.  Beniamin  Eris- 
man,  Willis  N.  Hance,  William  Stith,  of 
Trov,  and  Henry  Knoop  and  Capt.  J.  C. 
Class,  of  Casstown,  and  the  remainder 
from  other  points  in  the  Countv. 

According  to  N.  W.  Cady,  there  were 
about  twenty  men  from  Miami  County  in 
Garfield’s  regiment,  the  42d,  among  whom 
was  John  T.  Knoon,  former  Countv  Com- 
missioner; N.  W.  Cadv.  Beniamin  Watson 
and  Henry  Heiner,  of  Troy.  There  were 
perhaps  an  equal  number  in  the  12th  Ohio 
Cavalry.  Abbott  E.  Childs,  of  Troy,  a 
sketch  of  whose  life  and  a portrait  of 
whom  appears  in  this  book,  and  Jacob 
Frank,  of  Troy,  were  two  of  them.  In 
any  event  there  need  not  ever  again  be 
any  dispute  on  this  auestion.  It  is  safe 
to  say  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
one  half  of  our  Population  were  women 
and  of  the  remaining  half  more  than  one- 
half  were  children.  Tt  follows,  therefore, 
that  one  out  of  each  two  men  over  18 
years  of  age  at  that  time  were  soldiers 
in  the  field.  There  were  so  few  adult  men 
left  at  home  that  the  women  were  com- 
pelled to  harvest  the  grain  in  numerous 
cases. 

THE  ELEVENTH  O.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp 


Dennison,  Ohio,  from  June  20,  1861,  to 
September  3,  1862,  for  three  years.  The 
original  members  (except  veterans)  were 
mustered  out  in  June  1864,  by  reason  of 
expiration  of  term  of  service,  and  the  vet- 
erans and  recruits  consolidated  into  a bat- 
talion and  were  retained  in  service  until 
June  11,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out 
in  accordance  with  an  order  from  the  War 
Department.  This  regiment  took  part  in 
the  following  battles : 

Hawk’s  Nest,  West  Virginia,  August 
20,  1861. 

Gauley  Bridge,  West  Virginia,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1861. 

Princeton,  West  Virginia,  May  15,  16, 
18,  1862. 

Bull  Run  Bridge,  Virginia,  August  27, 

1862. 

Frederick,  Maryland,  September  12, 
1862. 

South  Mountain,  Maryland,  September 
14,  1862. 

Antietam,  Maryland,  September  17, 
1862. 

Hoover’s  Gap,  Tennessee,  June  25,  1863. 
Tullahoma,  Tennessee,  July  1,  1863. 
Chickamauga,  Tennessee,  September  19 
and  20,  1863. 

Lookout  Mountain,  Tennessee,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1863. 

Mission  Ridge,  Tennessee,  November  25, 

1863. 

Ringgold,  Georgia.  November  27,  1863. 
Buzzard’s  Roost,  Georgia,  February  25, 

1864. 

Resaca,  Georgia,  May  14,  1864. 
FORTY-FOURTH  O.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Spring- 
field,  Ohio,  September  12  to  October  14, 

1861,  for  three  years’  service.  Its  desig- 
nation was  changed  to  the  Eighth  O.  V.  C. 
in  June,  1864.  It  participated  in  the  fol- . 
lowing  battles : 

Lewisburg,  West  Virginia,  May  23, 

1862. 

Dutton’s  Hill,  Kentucky,  March  30, 
1863. 


390 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


EIGHTH  0.  V.  C. 

This  regiment,  formerly  the  Fourty- 
fourth  O.  V.  I.,  participated  in  the  follow- 
ing battles : 

Covington,  Virginia,  June  9,  1864. 

Otter  Creek,  Virginia,  June  15,  1864. 

Lynchburg,  Virginia,  June  17  and  18, 
1864. 

Liberty,  Virginia,  June  19,  1864. 

Winchester,  Virginia,  July  24,  1864. 

Dartinsburg,  West  Virginia,  September 
18,  1864. 

Winchester,  Virginia,  September  19, 
1864. 

Fisher’s  Hill,  Virginia,  September  22, 

1864. 

North  Shenandoah,  Virginia  (Luray 
Valley)  October  7,  1864. 

Cedar  Creek,  Virginia,  October  19,  1864. 
Beverly,  West  Virginia,  October  29,  1864. 

Beverly,  West  Virginia,  January  11, 

1865. 

SEVENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT  O.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp 
Dave  Tod,  Troy,  Ohio,  and  Paducah,  Ky., 
from  September,  1861  to  January,  1862,  to 
serve  three  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
its  term  of  service,  the  original  members 
(except  veterans)  were  mustered  out,  and 
jthe  organization,  composed  of  veterans 
and  recruits,  retained  in  service  until  No- 
vember 30,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered 
out  in  accordance  with  an  order  from  the 
War  Department.  It  participated  in  the 
following  battles : 

Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6 and  7,  1862. 

Clarksville,  Tennessee,  August  19,  1862. 

Fort  Donelson,  Tennessee,  August  25, 
1862. 

Cumberland  Iron  Works,  Tennessee, 
August  26,  1862. 

Clarksville,  Tennessee,  September  7, 
1862. 

Jonesboro,  Georgia,  August  31  to  Sep- 
tember 1,  1864. 

Lovejoy  Station,  Georgia,  September  2 
to  6,  1864. 


Columbia,  Tennessee  (Duck  Run),  No- 
vember 24  to  28,  1864. 

Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  15  to 
16,  1864. 

NINETY-FOURTH  0.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp 
Piqua,  Ohio,  August  24,  1862,  to  serve 
three  years.  It  was  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice June  5,  1865,  in  accordance  with  an 
order  from  the  War  Department.  It  par- 
ticipated in  the  following  battles: 

Tate’s  Ferry,  Kentucky,  August  31, 
1862. 

Perryville,  Kentucky,  October  6,  1862. 

Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December  31, 
1862,  to  January  2,  1863. 

Tullahoma  campaign,  June  23,  1863. 

Dug  Gap,  September  11,  1863. 

Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  19- 

20,  1863. 

Lookout  Mountain,  Tennessee,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1863. 

Mission  Ridge,  Tennessee,  November 
25,  1863. 

Resaca,  Georgia,  May  13  to  16,  1864. 

Dallas,  Georgia,  May  27  to  29,  1864. 

Kenesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  £ t< 
30,  1864. 

Smyrna  Gap  Camp  Ground,  Georgia, 
July  3-4,  1864. 

Chattahoochie  River,  Georgia,  July  6-10, 
1864. 

Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  20, 
1864. 

Atlanta,  Georgia,  ((Hoods-fire  Sortie), 
July  22,  1864. 

Atlanta,  Georgia,  (Siege  of)  July  28  to 
September  2,  1864. 

Jonesboro,  Georgia,  August  31  to  Sep- 
tember 1,  1864. 

Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19- 

21,  1865. 

Johnson’s  Srurender,  April  26,  1865. 

On  page  165,  second  paragraph,  first  col- 
umn, in  the  last  Chicago  history  of  Miami 
County  of  1909,  I find  the  following : 

“The  record  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Tenth  is  one  to  be  proud  of.  It  had  more 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


391 


men  killed,  wounded  and  missing  than  any 
other  regiment  during  the  war.” 

Since  the  first  Colonel  of  this  regiment, 
General  J.  Warren  Keifer  has  been  my 
lifetime  friend,  and  the  last  Colonel  Otho 
H.  Binkley,  was  my  uncle  by  marriage, 
and  a great  number  of  the  rank  and  file 
were  my  boyhood  friends  and  many  of 
them  my  schoolmates,  I would  not  desire 
to  belittle  the  splendid  battle  record  of 
this  really  tip-top  body  of  men,  but  the 
truth  of  history  compels  me  to  herewith 
embody  the  statistics  on  this  subject,  so 
very  little  understood  and  so  often  a mat- 
ter of  discussion,  compiled  as  it  was  from 
official  reports. 

(Copy) 

Comrade  F.  M.  Sterrett,  Troy,  Ohio. 

Dear  Comrade — Enclosed  find  the  sta- 
tistics you  ask  for  in  your  recent  letter. 
Regimental  Losses  in  Any  Single  Battle 

First  Minnesota,  Gettysburg,  engaged 
262,  killed  47,  wounded  168,  total  215,  per 
cent  82. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  Pennsyl- 
vania, Gettysburg,  engaged  198,  killed  25, 
wounded  103,  missing  21,  total  149,  per 
cent.  75. 

One  Hundred  and  First  New  York,  Ma- 
nassas, engaged  168,  killed  6,  wounded  101, 
missing  17,  total  124,  per  cent  73. 

Twenty-fifth  Massachusetts,  Cold  Har- 
bor, engaged  300,  killed  53,  wounded  139, 
missing  28,  total  220,  per  cent  70. 

Thirty-sixth  Wisconsin,  Bethesda 
Church,  engaged  240,  killed  20,  wounded 
108,  missing  38,  total  166,  per  cent  69. 

Twentieth  Massachusetts,  Fredericks- 
burg, engaged  238,  killed  25,  wounded  138, 
total  163,  per  cent  68. 

Eighth  Vermont,  Cedar  Creek,  engaged 
156,  killed  17,  wounded  66,  missing  23,  to- 
tal 105,  per  cent  67. 

Eighty-first  Pennsylvania,  Fredericks- 
burg, engaged  261,  killed  15,  wounded  141, 
missing  20,  total  176,  per  cent  67. 

Twelfth  Massachusetts,  Antietam,  en- 
gaged 334,  killed  49,  wounded  165,  miss- 
ing 10,  total  224,  per  cent  67. 


First  Maine  Heavy  Artillery,  Peters- 
burg, engaged  950,  killed  115,  wounded 
489,  missing  28,  total  632,  per  cent,  66. 

Killed  in  Battle  During  Entire  Service 

Second  Wisconsin,  total  enrollment  1203, 
total  killed  238,  per  cent  19.7. 

First  Maine  Heavy  Artillery,  total  en- 
rollment 2202,  total  killed  423,  per  cent 
19.2. 

Fifty-seventh  Massachusetts,  total  en- 
rollment 1052,  total  killed  202,  per  cent 
19.1. 

Sixty-ninth  New  York,  total  enrollment 
1513,  total  killed  259,  per  cent  17.1. 

One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Pennsyl- 
vania, total  enrollment  1132,  total  killed 
198,  per  cent  17.4. 

Seventh  Wisconsin,  total  enrollment 
1630,  total  killed  281,  per  cent,  17.2. 

Eleventh  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  total 
enrollment  1179,  total  killed  196,  ner  cent 
16.6. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Pennsyl- 
vania, total  enrollment  1037,  total  killed 
167,  per  cent  16.1. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Penn- 
sylvania, total  enrollment  935,  total  killed 
155,  per  cent  16.5. 

First  Minnesota,  total  enrollment  1242, 
total  killed  187,  per  cent.  15. 

One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Ohio,  total  en- 
rollment 1165,  total  killed  126,  per  cent 
10.8. 

In  the  first  table  above  those  that  died 
from  wounds  are  not  included  in  the  num- 
ber killed. 

In  the  second  table  is  included  killed  and 
died  of  wounds. 

I trust  the  above  gives  you  the  informa- 
tion wanted. 

Yours  in  F.,  C.  and  L., 
WILLIAM  S.  MATTHEWS, 

A.  A.  General. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TENTH  O.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp 
Piqua,  Ohio,  October  3,  1862,  to  serve 
three  years.  It  was  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice June  25,  1865,  in  accordance  with  an 


392 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


order  from  the  War  Department.  It  par- 
tiicpated  in  the  battles  of : 

Union  Mills,  Va.  (Winchester),  June  13, 

1863. 

Winchester  Heights,  Virginia,  June  14, 
1863. 

Stephenson’s  Depot,  Virginia,  June  15, 
1863. 

Wapping’s  Heights,  Virginia,  July  23, 
1863. 

Brandy  Station,  Virginia,  November  8, 

1863. 

Mine  Run,  or  Orange  Grove,  Virginia, 
November  27,  1863. 

Wilderness,  Virginia,  May  5 and  n 1864. 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  V ^ginia, 
May  9-12,  1864. 

New  River,  Virginia,  May  14,  I >o4. 

Cold  Harbor,  Virginia,  June  1 12,  1864. 
Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22-23  i864. 
Ream's  Station,  Virginia,  Ju^e  29,  1864. 
Monocacy,  Maryland,  July  9 1864. 
Snicker’s  Gap,  Charleston,  Halltown  and 
Smithfield,  August,  1864. 

O’Pequan,  Virginia,  September  19,  1864. 
Fisher’s  Hill,  Virginia,  September  22, 

1864. 

Cedar  Creek,  Virginia,  October  19,  1864. 
Cedar  Springs,  Virginia,  November  12, 

1864. 

Petersburg,  Virginia,  March  25,  1865. 
Petersburg,  Virginia,  assault,  April  2, 

1865. 

Jettersville,  Virginia,  April  5,  1865. 
Sailor’s  Cr.,  Virginia,  April  6,  1865. 
Appomattox,  Virginia,  April  9,  1865. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY- 
SEVENTH  0.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  organized  at  Camp  Den- 
nison, Ohio,  May  16,  1364,  to  serve  100 
days.  It  was  composed  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Regiment  and  Eighty-seventh  Bat- 
talion, Ohio  National  Guard,  from  Miami 
County. 

On  the  20th  day  of  May  the  regiment 
started  for  Washington  City.  Upon  ar- 
rival, it  reported  to  General  Augur,  and 
was  ordered  on  duty  at  Fort  Ethan  Allen. 


On  the  27th  day  of  May,  four  companies 
were  ordered  to  Fort  Marcy.  On  the  1st 
of  June,  Company  A was  detached  to  per- 
form guard  duty  at  Division  Headquarters, 
and  remained  there  during  its  term  of 
service.  At  midnight  on  the  11th  of  June, 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Fort  Reno. 
Marching  as  far  as  Fort  Stevens,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  moved  into 
the  trenches  as  support  to  the  First  Maine 
and  First  Ohio  Batteries. 

In  this  position  the  regiment  remained 
until  July  4,  when  it  returned  to  Fort 
Ethan  Allen.  On  the  23d  of  August  it 
was  ordered  to  report  at  Camp  Dennison, 
Ohio,  and  was  mustered  out  on  August 
30,  1864,  on  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

(Troy,  Ohio,  Times,  December  24,  1863). 
FROM  THE  FIFTH  IND.  OHIO  VOL- 
UNTEER CAVALRY. 

Camp  I jams,  Ky.,  Dec.  9,  1863. 

Editor  Troy  Times. 

Having  nothing  to  do  this  bleak  winter 
morning,  I have  concluded  to  pen  a few 
lines  for  The  Times.  I am  a member  of 
Company  D,  Fifth  Ind.  Battalion,  O.  V. 
Cavalry,  have  been  a resident  of  the  Tro- 
jan City  and  a reader  of  your  paper.  We 
are  now  posted  at  Flemingsburg  to  guard 
against  the  Mountain  guerrillas  coming 
down  in  this  region.  We  have  been  here 
for  the  past  three  months  and  have  in 
that  time  made  several  “ring  hunts”  in 
the  mountains  against  the  bushwhackers 
that  infest  them ; the  result  of  our  scouts 
has  been  the  capture,  in  all  of  45  of  the 
guerrillas,  one  lieutenant-colonel,  one  cap- 
tain, and  two  lieutenants.  The  lieutenant- 
colonel’s  name  is  Oliver  Patton,  a brother 
of  James  Patton,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  who 
was  engaged  with  Cathcart  in  the  plot  to 
release  the  prisoners  at  Camp  Chase,  John- 
son’s Island  and  other  places.  We  sent 
him  to  Cincinnati  Barracks  with  a thirty- 
two  pound  ball  attached  to  his  leg.  He  has 
since  been  sentenced  to  be  shot.  He  has, 
or  soon  will  have  his  rights. 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


393 


We  have  become  a terror  to  those  law- 
less mountaineers  and  all  that  is  necessary 
to  make  them  “skedaddle”  is  to  let  them 
know  that  the  Fifth  is  after  them.  They 
have  not  got  quite  so  exalted  opinion  of 
the  Kentucky  boys.  One  hundred  and 
sixty  men  in  command  of  Pete  Everetts 
two  weeks  ago  made  a raid  on  Mount 
Sterling,  22  miles  from  this  place,  burned 
the  Court  House,  with  all  the  papers  con- 
tained in  the  offices  of  the  Auditor,  Treas- 
urer, Recorder,  etc.  They  also  burned  a 
large  amount  of  Government  property  and 
all  of  this  time  the  Fortieth  Kentucky,  un- 
der Colonel  True,  were  within  one  mile  of 
town.  Colonel  True  is  highly  censured  by 
the  citizens  for  not  having  the  roads  prop- 
erly picketed,  and  for  not  following  up  as 
quickly  as  he  might.  Cowardice  or  incom- 
petency are  certainly  to  blame.  OnThe  re- 
ception of  the  news,  the  Fifth  was  ordered 
after  the  plunderers  and  were  in  advance. 
Forty  of  Everett’s  men  were  captured  by 
the  Ohio  and  Kentucky  boys  and  so  se- 
verely punished  the  rest  that  they  will  not 
be  likely  to  “try  it  on”  again.  We  have 
earned  a good  name  among  the  citizens  of 
this  part  of  the  county  by  our  good  service 
and  behavior.  Several  weeks  ago  we  were 
ordered  from  this  place  to  Lexington,  Ky. 
Several  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
this  county  immediately  got  up  a petition 
and  themselves  took  it  and  presented  it  to 
General  Boyle  to  have  us  remain  here,  in- 
stead of  sending  their  own  troops,  the  For- 
tieth Kentucky. 

Our  time  expires  the  28th  of  February. 
Many  of  the  boys  will  re-enlist.  We  have 
erected  comfortable  winter  quarters  and 
are  a jolly  set  of  boys.  We  get  the  news 
daily  in  our  shanty,  besides  takinc  two  or 
three  county  papers.  The  shanty  of  which 
I am  a member  contains  ten  men  from 
Darke  and  Clark  Counties.  We  have  some- 
thing like  the  comforts  of  home,  having  a 
huge  fireplace  in  one  side  of  the  shanty 
and  the  room  papered.  We,  of  course,  do 
not  have  quite  as  many  domestics  and 
knick-knacks  to  eat  as  we  had  at  home. 


The  boys,  however,  (of  course  I don’t)  go 
for  the  neighboring  hen  roots  and  bee 
stands  frequently.  This  may  be  hardly 
considered  Christianlike,  but  the  boys  act 
on  the  principle  that  “might  makes  right” 
and  that  “all  things  are  fair  in  time  of 
war.” 

The  boys  at  this  place  are  jubilant,  and, 
in  fact,  this  seems  to  be  the  feeling  that 
pervades  the  army  everywhere;  as  far  as 
my  knowledge  and  observation  extends.  I 
do  not  think  there  has  ever  been  a time 
since  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  that  the 
army  has  been  in  as  good  spirits.  And 
why  not ! We  now  have  the  assurance  that 
while  we  are  trying  to  crush  out  and  exter- 
minate treason  in  the  South,  there  is  a 
noble,  patriotic  people  at  home  who  sup- 
port us  in  the  effort. 

The  result  of  the  late  election  for  Gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  has  put  a new  nerve  and 
deterimnation  in  every  soldier’s  heart  and 
they  newly  resolve  that  they  will  never  lay 
down  their  arms  until  this  traitorous  foe 
is  conquered  and  shall  return  to  their  al- 
legiance. Without  “signers”  too,  if  neces- 
sary. Their  “peculiar  institution”  is 
doomed  and  Heaven  hasten  the  day  when 
not  a bondsman  shall  remain  in  this  great 
republic.  Then  shall  our  flag  be  a flag  of 
freedom  and  liberty,  and  when  their  insti- 
tution of  slavery  is  gone  they  will  have  the 
consciousness  of  knowing  that  they 
brought  it  about  themselves. 

I shall  close  for  this  time.  If  anything 
of  importance  occurs  in  this  region  of  the 
country,  I will  try  to  inform  you  of  it. 

FRANK. 

The  above  letter  was  resurrected  from 
the  old  files  of  The  Troy  Times,  now  in  the 
Congressional  Library  at  Washington,  D. 
C.,  through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Welty,  our 
Congressman,  and  published  here  to  illus- 
trate the  viewpoint  of  a soldier  just  turned 
18  years  of  age,  54  years  ago,  just  after 
the  exciting  election  between  Brough  and 
Vallandingham,  in  which  the  former  was 
elected  by  101,000  majority.  It  also  af- 
fords me  the  opportunity  of  relating  an  in- 


394 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


teresting  experience  which  resulted  from 
the  writing  of  that  letter.  Our  division 
headquarters  were  located  at  Boone’s 
Knob,  on  the  Kentucky  River,  in  Jessa- 
mine County,  and  comamnded  by  General 
Frye,  who  had  killed  General  Zollicoffer  of 
the  Confederate  Army  at  the  battle  of 
Mill  Springs.  His  adjutant  general  was 
W.  W.  Woodward,  formerly  of  Miami 
County,  and  at  one  time  a merchant  in 
New  Carlisle,  in  Clark  County.  The  Troy 
Times,  containing  the  above  script, 
reached  those  headquarters  in  due  time, 
and  an  order  was  immediately  issued  for 
my  arrest  to  be  sent  under  guard  on  the 
charge  of  writing  contraband  war  news, 
contrary  to  the  regulations  of  the  United 
States  Army,  made  and  provided.  My 
commander,  Major  I jams,  believing  that 
I would  hurry  through  as  rapidly  without 
a guard  as  with  one,  assumed  the  respon- 
sibility of  disregarding  that  feature  of  the 
order.  The  Major  wrote  a letter  to  Gen- 
eral Frye  and  had  it  signed  by  each  com- 
missioned officer  of  the  battalion  in  which 
they  offered  to  enter  into  bonds  and  for- 
feit their  lives  for  the  patriotism  of  Ser- 
geant Sterrett  and  further  represented 
that  what  I had  written  was  without  any 
knowledge  of  the  law,  and  recommended 
that  I be  returned  to  my  command  with- 
out prejudice.  Quartermaster  Holm  fur- 
nished me  with  transportation  by  omni- 
bus to  Maysville,  the  nearest  Ohio  River 
point,  and  from  there  to  Cincinnati  by  the 
Bostonia  No.  3. 

Arriving  at  Maysville  the  transporta- 
tion was  found  valueless  on  account  of 
the  river  being  unnavigable  on  account  of 
great  ice  cakes  floating  in  its  channel. 
There  was  no  other  regular  means  of 
reaching  Cincinnati,  and  I remained  in 
the  Eagle  Hotel  for  three  days  at  the  rate 
of  $3  per  day,  with  a total  capital  of  $10. 
Several  members  of  the  Kentucky  Legis- 
lature, also  ice-bound,  stopping  at  the 
Eagle,  finally  made  up  a party  for  Ger- 
mantown by  sleigh,  and  from  thence  by 
omnibus  over  the  dry  ridge  road  to  Fal- 


mouth, Kentucky  on  the  Central  railroad, 
about  half  way  between  Cincinnati  and 
Nicholasville,  the  then  termini  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Central. 

Arriving  at  Falmouth,  without  money, 
having  paid  my  fare  with  vouchers  on 
Quartermaster  Holmes,  my  better  plan, 
in  the  cause  of  expedition  and  in  the  in- 
terest of  my  Major  would  have  been  to 
beat  my  way  to  Nicholasville,  but,  having 
a letter  from  Holm  to  Captain  Taggart, 
quartermaster  in  Cincinnati,  instructing 
him  to  furnish  me  with  transportation,  I 
beat  my  way  to  the  latter  place  and  ar- 
rived there  on  Saturday  afternoon,  the 
first  week  of  January,  1864,  the  coldest 
month  ever  experience  in  the  State  of 
Kentucky  up  to  that  date. 

There  were  no  railroad  bridges  across 
the  Ohio  River  at  that  time  and  the  ferry- 
boats could  not  run  on  account  of  the 
fields  of  ice  coming  down  the  channel.  The 
only  means  of  crossing  the  river  for  sev- 
eral days  was  by  skiff,  edging  between  the 
cakes  of  ice  and  the  latter  pushed  aside 
with  the  oars.  I boldly  took  a seat  in  a 
boat  conducted  by  two  colored  men  and, 
arriving  on  the  Ohio  side,  ran  rapidly  up 
the  wharf  amid  the  cries  of  my  colored 
friends  to  come  back  and  pay  the  one  dol- 
lar charge  for  crossing. 

Reporting  to  Captain  Taggart,  I was 
furnished  transportation  to  Nicholasville 
and  informed  that  no  train  left  before 
Monday  morning,  and  being  furnished 
with  a letter  to  a sergeant  in  command  of 
the  military  prison  at  Newport,  I again 
ran  the  ice  blockade  and  reported  to  him 
without  having  informed  any  one  that  I 
was  penniless,  or  that  I was  actually  a 
prisoner  under  arrest.  The  sergeant  in 
command  of  more  than  a hundred  prison- 
ers, confined  in  barrack  rooms,  wishing  to 
go  to  his  home  over  Sunday,  asked  me  to 
take  charge,  since  I held  his  rank,  which 
I did,  until  Monday  morning,  and  thus 
probably  furnished  the  only  case  on  rec- 
ord of  a military  prisoner  in  command  of 
a military  prison.  My  duty  consisted  in 


SAMUEL  KNOOP  STATLER 

The  grandfather  of  Samuel  Knoop  Statler  was  of  Holland  origin  and  moved  from  Cumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  to  Ohio  in  1799.  He  settled  on  the  farm,  two  miles  south  of  Piqua,  in  1802  and  this  really 
beautiful  place  with  its  marvelously  clean  and  neat  surroundings  has  remained  in  the  family  to  the 
present  day. 

The  father  of  Samuel  Knoop  Statler,  George,  was  born  in  1798  and  was  the  youngest  in  a family 
of  seven  boys  and  four  girls. 

The  subject  of  the  above  plate  was  born  on  the  home  farm  on  March  18th,  1844  and  died  there  on  July 
1,  1917.  He  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  enlisted  in  the  Naval  Service  of  the  United  States  on 
November  18th,  1863,  for  the  term  of  one  year.  In  a manouver  of  the  Carondelet  on  the  Mississippi  river, 
to  which  he  was  attached,  he  was  accidentally  wounded  with  a bullet  which  sent  him  to  the  hospital  in 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  from  which  he  was  discharged  on  October  24th,  1864,  and  at  the  same  tirr, . from 
the  service. 

His  mother  was  a sister  of  John,  George,  Jacob  and  William  Knoop  of  Staunton  Township.  The  three 
first  named  were  called  the  “Bachelor  Knoops,”  William  being  the  only  one  to  marry. 

Samuel  was  married  to  Clara  Ellen  Kinsman,  born  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  on  February  18th,  1874, 
and  from  this  union  were  born  Elizabeth  Kinsman  Statler  and  George  Herbert  Statler. 

Elizabeth  Kinsman  Statler  married  William  Harr  of  Troy  on  November  23,  1898,  from  which  union 
one  child,  Catherine,  was  born. 

George  Herbert  Statler  was  born  on  June  27,  1881,  and  married  to  Minnie  Schemmel  on  April  23rd,  1912, 
from  which  union  were  born  Neil  Schemmel  Statler,  January  1,  1913  and  Jean  Louise  Statler  March 
7th,  1915.  George  lives  on  the  home  farm  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  excellent  cultivation, 
with  modern  improvements.  A spring,  west  of  the  three  residences,  furnishes  water  to  the  barns  and 
houses,  by  gravity.  George  also  superintends  the  Midway  place,  consisting  of  250  acres. 

Samuel  Knoop  Statler  was  superintendent  of  construction  of  the  Miami  Gas  Line  Company  down  the 
Miami  Valley.  He  was  the  owner  of  bank  stocks  and  an  officer  in  two  of  the  Piqua  banks.  He  occupied 
a high  position  in  the  financial  affairs  of  Miami  County  and  no  citizen  stood  higher  in  the  estimation 
of  his  fellow-man  for  integrity  and  usefulness. 

William  Sabin  Statler,  and  James  Watson  Statler  were  brothers  of  Samuel,  who  with  his  sister, 
Harriet,  were  joint  owners  in  the  farm  lands.  William  Sabin  and  Harriet  remain  on  the  old  place 
— endeared  to  them  by  115  years  of  family  ownership  and  occupancy.  Harriet  has  not  married.  She  takes 
an  active  and  intelligent  interest  in  all  home  matters,  especially  in  young  Neill  Schemmel  and  Jean 
Louise.  I am  under  special  obligations  to  her  for  courtesies  extended  to  me  while  at  their  beautiful  home. 


JOSEPH  PEARSON 

Joseph  Pearson  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  January  23,  1809,  And  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  the  settlement  at  Staunton,  Miami  County,  joining  their  old  Pennsylvania  neighbors, 
John,  Jacob,  George  and  William  Knoop,  who  preceded  them  in  1797  and  who,  with  others,  built  a stockade 
at  the  apex  of  the  bend  in  the  Miami,  below  Troy,  as  a protection  against  the  Indians. 

Young  Pearson  engaged  for  some  years  in  the  saddlery  business.  He  was  married  to  Mariah  Ludlow  on 
November  13,  1835,  who  was  a grand  daughter  of  Col.  Israel  Ludlow,  who,  with  Generals  St.  Clair,  Dayton 
and  Wilkinson,  founded  the  city  of  Dayton  immediately  after  the  Greenville  Treaty  in  1795. 

From  this  union  there  were  born  four  sons,  William  Ludlow  Pearson  September  10,  1836 ; Benjamin 
Israel  Pearson,  in  1840  ; Joseph  Elbridge  Pearson,  May  27,  1842  ; and  George  Harvey  Pearson,  on  May  3, 
1845  ; all  of  whom,  in  this  year  of  1917  have  passed  away  except  George.  The  only  girl  of  the  family 
was  born  in  October,  1853,  and  died  in  1862. 

Joseph  Pearson  was  appointed  Post  Master  of  Troy  in  1845  and  served  until  1849.  At  the  October 
election  of  that  year,  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Miami  County  and  served  until  the  close  of  1854,  at  which 
time,  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge  of  Miami  County  and  served  until  1861.  He  was  known  in  private 
life  as  an  upright  citizen  and  in  official  life  as  an  efficient  and  courteous  official.  'He  died  in  1871.  HU 
devoted  wife  remained  with  her  family  until  the  year  1898,  passing  to  the  beyond  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  82. 

William  Ludlow  Pearson  was  prominent  in  the  dry  goods  business,  Joseph  Elbridge  in  the  wholesale 
and  retail  grocery  business  and  various  other  important  successful  business  ventures.  He  represented 
Miami  County  in  the  State  Legislature  for  one  term,  to  the  credit  of  himself  and  his  constituents  ; Benjamin 
Israel  was  with  his  brother,  Joseph  Elbridge,  in  the  grocery  trade  for  some  years  and  also  engaged  in  the 
sale  of  general  nursery  stock. 

The  descent  will  be  through  Joseph  Elbridge  who  was  married  to  Mary  Studebaker  in  1870.  From  this 
union  was  born  Joseph  Elbridge,  Jr.,  on  June  25,  1871,  who  was  married  to  Alice  McCullough  on  June  2, 
1890,  and  from  this  union  was  born  Walter,  on  August  21,  1892. 

George  Harvey,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  with  his  wife,  lives  in  his  pretty  home  on  Franklin  street  in 
Troy.  He  was  married  to  Rose  Shaeffer,  daughter  of  Eckert  and  Josephine  Helen  Shaeffer  December  18, 
1883. 

From  this  union  was  born  George  Elbridge  on  July  17,  1886,  who  lived  until  June  17,  1906,  when  he 
left  his  stricken  parents,  in  the  blush  of  young  manhood  when  life  seemed  opening  to  him  with  all  of  its 
unknown  but  enticing  possibilities,  leaving  his  father,  cousin  Joseph  E.  and  his  son,  Walter,  as  the  only 
male  descendants  of  his  family. 

George  Harvey  Pearson  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Pearson  Block  of  store  rooms  and  apartments  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Walnut  streets  and  the  owner  of  farm  lands  which  furnish  him  genial  employment 
while  the  tide  runs  out.  His  wife  is  one  of  the  energetic  matrons  of  Troy,  much  engaged  in  good  works. 


JACOB  ROHRER 

On  account  of  religious  persecution,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  followers  of  Meno 
Simon,  a Swiss  reformer,  came  to  the  land  of  brotherly  love,  about  which  they  had  heard  so  much,  and 
settled  at  the  present  site  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 

Among  the  immigrants  were  the  forbears  of  Jacob  Rohrer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  picture,  who 
was  born  at  Lancaster,  on  October  15,  18 15 

When  he  was  21  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Montgomery  County,  with  his  mother,  where  two  of  his 
brothers  had  preceded  him.  The  Pennsylvania  railroad  was  quite  primitive  in  that  day.  The  ascent  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains  was  made  on  an  inclined  plane  with  wooden  rails. 

He  purchased  the  home  farm,  west  of  Hyattsville,  in  1837,  but  did  not  move  there  until  1842.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Kindig  on  Christmas  day,  1838,  whose  cradle  he  had  rocked  when  a boy,  back  in  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Rohrer  once  said  to  me,  that  he  sold  butter  in  that  day  for  five  cents  a pound,  eggs  at  three  cents 
per  dozen,  corn  20  cents  per  bushel,  and  wheat  at  37  cents  per  bushel. 

The  taxes  on  his  farm  of  187  acres  was  $17  per  year. 

He  served  as  Commissioner  of  Miami  County  from  1861  to  1866.  He  founded  the  Ford  and  Company 
Wheel  Works,  was  the  president  and  principal  stockholder.  He  was  also  president  of  the  furniture  factory. 
He  helped  to  found  the  strawboard  factory,  the  glucose  works,  president  of  the  Tippecanoe  National  Bank, 
a director  for  30  years  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Troy  and  a stockholder  and  director  in  the  Troy 
Wagon  and  Carriage  Works. 

Three  children  blessed  his  marriage,  Mary,  Ida,  and  John  H.  Mary  married  I.  C.  Leonard,  Ida  married 
A.  R.  Carver,  and  John  married  Rose  Benham. 

Elizabeth  Kindig  Rohrer  died  on  February  20,  1894,  and  Jacob  Rohrer  on  May  25,  19  10. 

“Oh  ! a wonderful  stream  is  the  river  of  time. 

As  it  runs  through  the  realm  of  tears. 

With  a familiar  rhythm  and  a musical  rhyme. 

And  a broader  sweep  and  a surge  sublime. 

As  it  blends  in  the  ocean  of  years. ” 


SAMUEL  KYLE  HARTER 

Samuel  Kyle  Harter,  whose  picture  appears  in  connection  with  this  sketch,  came  of  revolutionary  stock. 
His  grandfather,  Henry  Harter,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  rests  in  the  McKendrie  burial  ground,  in  Elizabeth 
township.  His  father,  Jacob  Harter,  came  to  Miami  county  from  Cynthiana,  Kentucky,  early  in  the 
century.  The  Harter  home  place  was  near  Pleasant  run  and  the  woolen  mill,  which  at  one  time  received 
its  power  from  this  stream. 

Before  attaining  his  majority,  he  taught  penmanship,  which  he  continued  for  some  years  until  his  eye- 
sight warned  him  to  discontinue  that  work.  He  purchased  an  interest  in  the  hardware  business  with  Uncle 
Mack  Hart  and  operated  under  the  firm  name  of  Hart  & Harter  from  1845  to  1865  when  Uncle  Mack 
retired  from  the  firm.  When  Mr.  Harter  had  money  to  spare  from  his  business,  he  invested  in  Miami 

county  farm  lands  until  he  became  the  largest  owner  of  this  character  of  property  in  the  county. 

He  had  an  unusually  high  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  citizenship  and  although  a man  of  the  closest 

business  application,  he  took  time  to  discharge  the  duties  of  mayor,  councilman,  member  of  the  school 

board,  and  trustee  of  the  Knoop  Children’s  Home. 

He  was  married  to  Olivia  Meredith,  also  of  Revolutionary  stock,  in  1853,  and  from  this  union,  five 
children  were  born,  three  dying  in  infancy  and  Sabin  in  the  bright  flush  of  young  manhood.  Mary  Jane, 
the  widow  of  William  M.  Hayner,  living  in  her  beautiful  home  in  Troy,  is  now  the  only  surviving  member 

In  his  later  life,  he  traveled,  with  chosen  friends  and  his  wife,  throughout  this  country  and  Europe. 
Having  an  artistic  temperament,  he  especially  enjoyed  the  art  galleries. 

He  and  his  wife  were  consistent  pillars  and  supporters  of  the  First  Methodist  Church  of  Troy.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Franklin  lodge  of  Masons  in  Troy. 

He  frequently  advanced  money  for  the  education  of  young  men.  He  once  said  to  me,  “When  I have 
money  to  risk  where  the  security  is  not  certain,  I venture  it  on  young  men.  If  I do  not  get  it  back,  it  is 
not  actually  lost.” 

While  he  obeyed  a rigid  formula  of  personal  morals,  he  was  singularly  free  from  bigotry.  It  was  easy 
for  him  to  condone  faults  in  others.  He  believed  that  environment  created  faults  that  under  different 
surroundings  might  have  been  virtues. 

He  died  in  1898  and  is  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  His  wife  followed  him  on  May  13,  1901,  and  lies  by 
his  side. 

“Love  led  them  on  ; and  faith,  who  knew  them  best 
Thy  handmaids,  clad  them  o’er  with  purple  beams 
And  azure  wings,  that  up  they  flew  so  drest, 

And  spake  the  truth  of  thee  in  glorious  themes, 

Before  the  Judge,  who  thenceforth  bid  them  rest. 

And  drink  thy  fill  of  pure  immortal  streams.” 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


399 


calling  the  roll  morning  and  evening  and 
seeing  after  “lights  out.” 

The  Kentucky  Central  was  primitive  in 
those  days,  and  we  did  not  arrive  at  Nich- 
olasville  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  I 
had  been  without  food  since  early  morn- 
ing, and  was  five  miles  from  Boone’s  Knob 
my  objective,  which  I was  supposed  to 
walk  for  want  of  any  other  means.  An 
old  darky  woman  was  selling  pies  on  the 
depot  platform,  which  I circled  around 
twice,  with  full  intent  to  hook  one  of  them 
and  give  leg  bail,  but  thinking  better  of 
it,  I took  my  course  along  the  turnpike  for 
my  destination,  and  had  walked  something 
over  a mile  when,  going  in  my  direction, 
I procured  a ride  behind  a splendid  iron 
grey  horse,  hitched  to  a light  open  buggy, 
driven  by  a gentleman  of  kindly  demeanor 
who  proved  to  be  the  division  quartermas- 
ter of  General  Frye. 

When  we- arrived  at  the  Knob  he 
pointed  out  the  headquarters  on  a hill, 
probably  seventy-five  feet  above  the  road, 
being  a frame  building  about  40x100,  with 
a 10-foot  hallway  on  the  lower  and  upper 
floors,  with  bedrooms  on  either  side.  I 
entered  the  office,  being  the  first  room  to 
the  right,  and  saluted  a sergeant  in  charge 
and  inquired  for  General  Frye,  who,  he 
reported,  was  at  supper  with  his  staff. 
While  waiting  for  them  I learned  that 
General  Frye,  with  his  division,  was  to 
start  the  next  day  to  the  relief  of  Burn- 
side ,then  being  besieged  by  Longstret  at 
Knoxville  and  that  General  Ammon,  of  the 
regular  army  was  to  take  command  on 
the  Kentucky  River.  I also  learned  that 
W.  W.  Woodward  was  an  Ohio  man  and 
not  a Kentuckian  as  I had  supposed.  When 
the  latter  came  into  the  room  (a  man  of 
splendid  presence),  a brother  of  Colonel 
John  R.  Woodward,  whose  picture  ap- 
pears in  this  work,  the  sergeant  informed 
me  of  his  rank.  Saluting  him,  I handed 
him  my  papers,  which  he  was  reading 
when  General  Frye  came  in  smoking  a 
cigar,  held  in  a small  pipe.  Woodward 
handed  the  papers  to  Frye  with  the  re- 


mark: “This  is  the  Sterrett  case  from 

Flemingsburg.”  After  reading  my  papers 
Frye  said:  “Yes,  something  must  be  done 
to  stop  this  indiscriminate  writing  of  war 
news  upon  the  part  of  privates  and  non- 
commissioned officers.” 

It  was  at  this  time  my  heart  went  down 
into  my  boots,  and  I mentally  ejaculated, 
“Six  months  on  the  entrenchments.”  At 
this  juncture,  Woodward  seized  my  hand 
and  led  me  to  a corner  of  the  room  and 
said:  “Are  you  any  akin  to  Judge  Ster- 
rett?” I replied,  “I  am  his  unfortunate 
son,”  and  then  followed  a consultation  be- 
tween the  General  and  his  Adjutant  that 
resulted  in  a letter  being  written  to  my 
Major,  exonerating  me  from  intentional 
wrong-doing.  I then  told  Woodward  I 
had  not  eaten  since  early  morning,  upon 
which  he  conducted  me  to  the  rear  end  of 
the  barracks  and  ordered  the  two  colored 
women  on  duty  to  feed  me.  Among  the 
hill-top  memories  of  my  life,  I shall  hold 
the  memory  of  that  meal  in  a high  place 
for,  although  it  consisted  of  fried  ham, 
brown  gravy  and  corn  bread,  it  seemed 
then  I had  never  tasted  anything  half  so 
delicious.  It  developed  that  Woodward 
had  at  one  time  made  an  assignment  of 
his  mercantile  business  to  my  father  who 
had  straightened  out  his  affairs  so  satis- 
factorily that  they  became  staunch 
friends. 

The  next  morning,  upon  my  request,  I 
was  furnished  a furlough  for  a visit  home 
and  soon  after,  General  Ammon,  a little, 
weazened  faced  man,  relieved  Gen.  Frye 
of  command  and  retained  Woodward  for 
his  Adjutant-General.  Noticing  me,  he 
said  to  Woodward,  “Who  is  this  cavalry 
sergeant?”  When  the  proper  explanation 
was  made,  General  Ammon  said,  “Where 
is  his  guard?”  and  that  question  answered 
the  General  said,  “Order  Major  Ijams  to 
these  headquarters  at  once.” 

This  conversation  was  accompanied  by 
some  expletives  that  convinced  me  that 
the  General  not  only  had  a violent  temper 
and  a command  of  stronger  language  than 


400 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


I had  ever  heard  before,  but  that  it  aug- 
ured no  good  to  my  trustful  Major.  I fol- 
lowed the  advice  of  my  friend  Woodward 
and  got  to  Nicholasville  and  on  a train 
for  Cincinnati  as  soon  as  possible. 

After  two  weeks  in  Troy  and  at  home 
in  the  country,  fed  on  the  fat  of  the  land, 
kissing  my  mother  and  sweetheart  good- 
bye, I returned  to  my  commnad.  When  I 
stepped  out  of  the  coach  in  front  of  the 
old  brick  hotel  at  Flemingsburg,  Major 
Ijams  saluted  me  and  inquired,  “Did  you 
have  a good  time  at  headquarters, 
Frank?”  and  when  I had  replied  in  the  af- 
firmative, he  said,  “You  fared  a derned 
sight  better  than  I did.”  The  Major  being 
a faithful  Methodist,  used  “dern”  as  his 
only  by-word.  He  explained  to  me  that 
General  Ammon  had  “cussed  him  black 
and  blue”  and  threatened  his  commission 
for  sending  me  without  a guard. 

The  following  letter  from  my  comrade, 
John  T.  Clarke,  of  Jefferson  City,  was 
written  me  soon  after  the  Department  En- 
campment at  Hannibal,  Mo.,  which  I at- 
tended as  a Past  Department  Commander 
and  which,  I think,  points  its  own  moral 
and  patriotic  lesson  which  justifies  its  ap- 
pearance here. 

Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  May  19,  1915. 
Col.  Frank  Sterrett,  Troy,  Ohio. 

Dear  Comrade — On  my  return  from 
Hannibal  I visited  my  daughter,  who  re- 
sides at  Webster  Groves,  and  hence  the  de- 
lay in  furnishing  you  the  inscriptions  on 
the  monument  at  Salem  Church,  Va. 

Salem  Church  is  four  miles  west  of 
Fredericksburg  and  six  miles  from  Chan- 
cellorsville. 

Here  a desperate  battle  was  fought  on 
the  3d  and  4th  of  May,  1863,  by  a portion 
of  Lee’s  army  and  the  Sixth  Army  Corps, 
commanded  by  General  John  Sedgwick. 

The  old  brick  church  is  standing  there 
now  full  of  bullet  marks  from  top  to  bot- 
tom, and  within  the  churchyard  is  a large 
tree  which  has  a hole  through  it  made  by 
a cannonball  into  which  may  be  placed  a 
No.  10  boot. 


Afew  feet  from  the  church  is  a small 
monument  placed  there  by  survivors  of  the 
Twenty-third  New  Jersey  Infantry  in 
memory  of  their  comrades  who  fell  in  that 
battle.  The  inscription  is  as  follows: 

“Erected  by  the  survivors  of  the  Twen- 
ty-third New  Jersey  Infantry  in  memory 
of  their  comrades  who  fell  on  this  field  of 
battle.” 

On  the  opposite  side,  and  incased  in  the 
granite  of  this  monument  is  a bronze  tab- 
let containing  these  words: 

“To  the  brave  Alabama  boys,  our  oppo- 
nents on  this  field  of  battle,  whose  mem- 
ory we  honor,  this  tablet  is  dedicated.” 

No  other  battle  field  in  the  world’s  his- 
tory ever  contained  a monument  upon 
which  was  inscribed  such  a tribute  to  the 
enemy. 

The  Twenty-third  New  Jersey  was  com- 
manded by  Colonel  E.  Burd  Grubb.  Last 
Monday  I called  on  Col.  Thos.  B.  Rodgers 
and  was  glad  to  find  him  much  improved 
in  health. 

With  many  thanks  to  you  for  your  kind- 
ness to  me  at  Hannibal,  I am  sincerely, 
Your  friend, 

JOHN  T.  CLARKE. 

Two  millions  and  a quarter  of  these 
men  wrote  into  the  Constitution  of  this 
Union  of  States: 

Across  the  horizon  of  an  advancing  civ- 
ilization, with  sword  and  bayonets  for  pens 
and  the  life  blood  of  260,000  of  their  com- 
rades for  ink,  the  imperishable  doctrine  of 
equal  rights  to  all  mankind. 

Since  the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  be- 
neath the  famous  apple  tree,  a million  and 
three  quarters  of  these  men,  after  build- 
ing empires  in  the  West,  marched  down 
the  western  declivity  of  life,  passed  its 
sunset,  and  pitched  their  tents  on  eternal 
camping  ground  in  the  midst  of  the  ever- 
lasting plains  of  light. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  of 
these  men,  at  an  average  age  of  76  years, 
with  frost  on  their  heads  that  will  never 
melt,  are  standing  at  attention  upon  the 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


401 


borders  of  immortality,  waiting  for  the 
command  to  cross  over  into  new  fields  of 
perpetual  peace;  new  visions  and  souls 
thrilled  with  immortal  hopes. 

It  was  their  sons,  who  forever  swept 
from  the  Western  Hemisphere  four  hun- 
dred years  of  Spanish  tyranny,  and  to  the 
grandsons  has  been  given  largely  the  duty 
of  destroying  the  miiltary  dynasties  of 
the  houses  of  Hohenzollern  and  Hapsburg, 
the  greatest  remaining  exponents  of  the 
divine  rights  of  kings. 

MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  SPANISH- 
AMERICAN  WAR 

Companies  A and  K of  the  Third  Regi- 
ment, Ohio  National  Guard,  from  Coving- 
ton and  Piqua  respectively,  served  in  that 
90-day  struggle,  but  did  not  leave  the 
United  States.  The  most  of  their  time 
was  spent  at  Tampa,  Fla. 

Company  A was  commanded  by  Captain 
Weaver,  who  died  in  the  service  and  was 
succeeded  in  command  by  Lieutenant  Hub- 
bard of  Company  K.  William  H.  Gross, 
of  Covington  was  Major  of  the  Third  Reg- 
iment in  this  service. 

I cannot  refrain  from  telling  the  story 
at  this  point,  of  how  I became  acquainted 
with  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt,  the  Com- 
mander of  the  Rough  Riders,  in  this  serv- 
ice. I was  in  the  city  of  Buffalo  at  the 
time  of  the  funeral  arrangeemnts  of  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  and  at  the  time  was  the 
Adjutant  General  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  McKinley  died  on  Septem- 
ber 14,  and  Roosevelt  was  sworn  in  as 
President  at  the  Wilcox  mansion  on  the 
15th.  On  the  15th,  a Grand  Army  com- 
mittee was  appointed  at  a meeting  in  the 
Custom  House  to  wait  on  the  President  in 
relation  to  the  appointment  of  a guard  of 
honor  to  the  dead  body  of  McKinley,  of 
which  I was  the  Chairman.  When  the 
President  came  into  the  Wilcox  parlor 
with  my  card  in  his  hand,  he  at  once 
said  in  his  quick,  brusque  manner,  “Which 
is  General  Sterrett?” 

I arose  and  saluted  and  preferred  our 


request,  whereupon  he  wrote  and  handed 
me  the  following  note : 

“Cortelyou,  comply  with  the  request  of 
these  comrades.  It  is  that  which  the  dead 
President  would  have  aesired  and  it  is 
what  I desire.” 

On  handing  this  communication  to  the 
former  private  secretary,  he  sent  us  to  Ma- 
jor Bingham  who  for  many  years  acted  as 
the  major  domo  at  the  White  House,  and 
it  was  he  who  detailed  the  following  guard 
of  honor  in  the  order  named:  Frank  M. 

Sterrett,  Adjutant  General;  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Missouri;  Alfred  Lyth,  Past  Se- 
nior Vice  Commander-in-Chief ; Joseph  W. 
Kay,  PasT  Department  Commander  of 
New  York;  William  F.  Billings,  Com- 
mander of  Post  No.  9,  Department  of  New 
York,  and  Charles  A.  Orr,  Commander  of 
the  Department  of  New  York. 

I commanded  this  guard  from  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  charge  of 
the  body  of  the  dead  President,  and  ar- 
rived in  Washington  on  the  16th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1901,  where  I turned  over  the  com- 
mand to  my  newly-elected  chief,  Ell.  Tor- 
rance, of  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  with  whom 
the  guard  continued  until  the  body  was 
laid  away  at  Canton,  0.,  on  September  19, 
1901.  Even  the  hillsides  from  Buffalo  to 
Washington,  and  from  thence  to  Canton 
were  continuously  occupied  with  tens  of 
thousands  of  people  with  uncovered  heads, 
watching  the  progress  of  the  historical  fu- 
neral train.  In  every  case,  where  the 
train  stopped,  the  two  favorite  hymns  of 
the  dead  President,  “Lead,  Kindly  Light” 
and  “Nearer  My  God  to  Thee”  were  sung 
by  the  people.  At  Harrisburg,  it  seemed 
that  a hundred  thousand  lifted  their  voices 
in  “Nearer  My  God  to  Thee”  in  a volume 
of  sound  that  seemed  to  lift  the  dome  of 
heaven  and  ascend  to  the  throne  of  God. 

Before  our  train  arrived  at  Williams- 
port, Pa.,  President  Roosevelt  requested 
my  presence  in  his  car,  on  the  16th  of  Sep- 
tember, for  the  purpose  of  making  notes 
of  my  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  or- 
der, expressing  himself  in  strong  and  elo- 


402 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


quent  phrases  in  admiration  of  our  work. 
I afterward  wrote  down  the  substance  of 
this  interview  and  asked  his  permission  to 
publish  the  same,  which  he  readily  granted 
and  which  I handed  to  the  Associated 
Press  agents  at  Williamsport,  Pa.,  and 
which  soon  afterward  appeared  in  most  of 
the  newspapers  of  America.  During  mj 
conversation  with  the  President,  who  con- 
tinually addressed  me  as  General,  I said: 
“Mr.  President,  I did  not  earn  my  title  in 
the  field,”  to  which  he  at  once  replied : “No 
difference,  I would  rather  have  the  right 
to  wear  your  little  bronze  button  than  be 
President.”  I ventured  to  humorously 
suggest  to  him  that  he  had  it  in  his  power 
to  remedy  any  defect  in  my  title,  at  which 
his  eyes  twinkled  and  his  great  teeth  be- 
came more  visible,  but  no  practical  results 
followed. 

I have  many  pictures  of  the  scenes  along 
the  line  of  this  historic  funeral  cortege,  in 
which  this  guard  of  honor  appear,  either 
in  the  front  or  rear  of  the  funeral  car,  and 
especially  as  they  ascend  the  west  steps  of 
the  rotunda  of  the  Capitol.  This  story  has 
never  been  published,  except  as  the  names 
of  the  guard  of  honor  appear  in  the  gen- 
eral history  of  that  event  and  I have 
thought  it  should  be  preserved  in  some  per- 
amnent  form  intimately  connected  as  it  is 
with  one  of  the  greatest  tragedies  of  our 
country’s  history  and  in  which  a Miami 
County  man  played  a part. 

THE  MANSION  OF  ARLINGTON 
HEIGHTS,  VIRGINIA 

This  home  was  the  property  of  George 
Washington  Parke  Custis,  the  adopted  son 
of  George  Washington,  whose  daughter 
Mary  married  Lieutenant  Robert  E.  Lee 
of  the  United  States  army,  who  afterward 
became  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Confederate  armies,  who  inherited  this 
property  of  1100  acres,  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Custis  and  which  was  confiscated  by 
the  Government  and  used  as  a National 
Cemetery,  and  now  ranks  as  the  greatest 
one  in  the  world. 


In  the  early  part  of  June,  1864,  an  order 
from  General  Augur,  commanding  then, 
the  defenses  around  Washington,  on  dress 
parade,  at  Fort  Ethan  Allen,  seven  miles 
distant  from  Arlington,  commanding  that 
a detail  of  seven  men  be  made  from  the 
147th  and  169th  Regiments  O.  V.  I.  to  as- 
sist Hergesheimer  and  McMath  of  the 
United  States  Coast  Survey  in  laying  out 
the  National  Cemetery  at  Arlington 
Heights.  Newton  J.  Harter,  of  Troy,  was 
the  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  the  Bri- 
gade, composed  of  the  two  above  named 
regiments,  and  I was  his  clerk.  The  order 
was  therefore  familiar  to  me,  since  it  was 
my  duty  to  open  the  mail  and  make  out  the 
countersign,  supposedly  under  the  eye  of 
the  Adjutant  General.  I was  detailed  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  squad  and  reported 
them  to  the  above-named  officers  in  charge 
of  the  Survey,  and  it  was  here  I remained 
in  the  service  until  my  discharge  on  the 
29th  of  August,  1864.  Facing  the  picture, 
my  room  was  at  the  right  of  the  column 
on  that  side.  When  I took  charge  of  it, 
there  were  a number  of  mathematical 
drawings  in  a cupboard  to  which  was  at- 
tached the  signature  of  Fitzhugh  Lee,  a 
nephew  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  made  his 
home  with  his  uncle  for  some  time.  There 
were  also  a number  of  school  books  used 
by  members  of  the  Lee  family,  one  of 
which,  a French  Grammar,  had  inscribed 
on  the  fly  leaf  the  name  of  Agnes  Lee, 
which  I brought  home  with  me  and  after- 
ward returned  to  the  lady,  then  living 
with  her  father,  who  was  President  of  the 
Virginia  University. 

“Mr.  Custis  was  the  author  of  a number 
of  remarkable  orations,  of  several  plays, 
and  of  recollections  of  Washington  pub- 
lished at  various  times  in  the  “National 
Intelligencer.”  He  was  fond  of  painting 
and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  executed 
a number  of  pictures  of  revolutionary  bat- 
tles. These  pictures  were  hanging  in  the 
hallway  which  divided  the  house,  to  right 
and  left  into  two  equal  portions.  On  a line 
drawn  on  the  right  and  left  sides  of  the 


MIAMI  COUNTY  IN  THE  WARS 


403 


mansion,  extended,  were  the  slave  quar- 
ters, facing  each  other  across  a court.  To 
the  rear  of  this  court  are  buried  some  1700 
soldier  dead  o fthe  Civil  War,  among  them 
Philip  H.  Sheridan  and  George  Crook.  The 
Washington  Monument,  the  White  House, 
and  the  City  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  are  in 
plain  view,  just  across  the  Potomac.  It 
has  been  written  many  times  and  so  far 
as  I have  been  able  to  discover  has  never 
been  disputed,  that  early  in  1861,  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  instructed  General  Winfield 
Scott  to  offer  General  Lee  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  Union  armies,  and  that  in  an- 
swer to  a letter  from  Scott,  Lee  rode  across 
the  acqueduct  bridge  at  Georgetown  and 
came  on  horseback  at  night  to  consult  with 
Scott  in  relation  to  that  tender,  at  which 
time  he  had  a commission  from  the  Con- 
federate Government  at  Richmond  to  enter 
that  service.  That  General  Lee  was  a 
great  soldier  and  a high-toned  gentleman 
is  universally  admitted,  but  that  his  apolo- 
gists are  justified  or  he  himself  is  relieved 
from  censure  because,  as  he  says,  his  first 
allegiance  was  to  the  State  of  Virginia,  is 
another  question.  Why  did  he  not  see  fit 
to  remain  in  the  Union  with  that  half  of 
his  State  that  refused  to  go  out? 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1864,  General  De 
Russey  and  staff  and  the  surveying  party, 
stood  on  the  roof  of  this  mansion  watch- 
ing the  smoke  of  battle  in  front  of  Wash- 
ington, where  Breckenridge  and  Early 
were  endeavoring  to  force  an  entry,  where 
the  147th  Regiment  from  Miami  County 
was  a participant.  At  one  time  the  smoke 
of  battle  covered  the  flag  on  Fort  Stevens 
and  DeRussey  ordered  me  to  bring  up  the 
Al-i-dade,  from  our  tripod  instrument,  a 
stronger  instrument  than  his,  which  upon 
looking  through  he  exclaimed  with  ela- 
tion, “The  flag  is  still  up.” 

It  was  at  the  time  when  Lincoln  stood 
upon  the  parapet  of  Fort  Stevens,  his  tall 
form  and  his  high  hat  forming  a conspic- 
uous target  for  sharp  shooters.  For  many 
years,  the  President  of  the  United  States 


has  made  the  Memorial  Day  address  at 
Arlington  Heights. 

SOME  COMFORT  FOR  SOLDIERS’ 
MOTHERS 

It  is  on  the  mothers  that  falls  the  most 
acute  distress  over  the  horrors  of  war. 
Anything  which  can  be  truthfully  affirmed 
that  will  have  a tendency  to  alleviate  this 
condition  of  mind  is  proper  and  timely. 
When  they  are  informed  that  but  four  men 
out  of  each  one  hundred  enlistments  dur- 
ing our  Civil  War,  lost  their  lives  from  all 
causes,  the  most  destructive  of  all  modern 
wars  and  there  is  a yearly  loss  of  life  of 
2 per  cent  in  the  peaceful  avocations  of 
mining  and  railroading,  or  that  the  chance 
of  death  in  the  army  is  only  twice  as  great 
as  in  several  of  the  peaceful  pursuits,  mil- 
itary service  is  at  least  partially  robbed 
of  its  terror. 

It  has  been  frequently  stated  that  the 
war  now  raging  in  Europe  is  more  de- 
structive of  life  than  any  former  war,  but 
this  is  almost  certain  to  be  untrue.  The 
Canadian  Government  has  sent,  in  round 
numbers  500,000  troops  to  the  French 
front  and  their  average  service  has  been 
eighteen  months.  A recent  semi-official 
report  shows  a loss  of  21,000  lives  in  this 
Canadian  contingent  or  about  31/*  per  cent 
per  year,  instead  of  four  as  in  our  Civil 
War. 

In  our  Civil  War,  much  of  the  fighting 
was  done  at  close  quarters  and  frequently 
hand  to  hand,  while  the  majority  of  fight- 
ing in  Europe  is  done  with  big  guns,  with 
the  troops  on  each  side  miles  apart.  To 
the  loss  of  life  must  be  added  the  enor- 
mous waste  of  war. 

In  the  play  of  Anthony  and  Cleopatra 
staged  31  years  before  Christ,  Shakes- 
peare makes  one  of  his  characters  say, 
“The  time  of  universal  peace  is  near,”  and 
from  this  we  may  readily  suppose  that 
the  thought  and  hope  for  peace  now,  and 
our  belief  now  that  after  the  present  stu- 
pendous struggle  in  Europe  has  ended,  a 


404 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


perpetual  peace  will  ensue ; has  always  ever,  and  in  view  of  the  growth  of  democ- 
been  the  hope  of  the  world  in  every  period  racy  throughout  the  world,  we  are  cer- 
of  it.  In  the  light  of  all  past  history,  how-  tainly  nearing  that  long  hoped  for  millen- 

ium. 

“Till  the  war  drums  throb  no  longer, 

And  the  battle  flags  are  furled; 

In  the  parliament  of  men, 

The  federation  of  the  world, 

There  the  comomn  sense  of  most  shall  hold 
A grateful  realm  in  awe, 

And  kindly  earth  shall  slumber 
Lapt  in  universal  law. 

Flowers  for  the  mourned  ones,  fresh  in 
their  bloom, 

Gifts  of  the  grateful  brighten  their  tomb ; 

Sing  the  glad  anthems,  loved  they  so  well 
Speak  of  their  loyalty,  deeds  of  theirs  tell ; 

Visit  each  grave  with  a floral  oblation, 

Leave,  where  they  slumber,  love’s  sweet 
decoration.” 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

AGRICULTURE  AND  POPULATION 


According  to  the  census  of  1910,  there 
were  in  the  United  States  6,361,502  farms 
containing  878,798,000  acres,  of  which 
478,472,000  acres  were  improved.  The 
lands  in  farms  represents  somewhat  less 
than  one-half,  46.2  per  cent  of  the  total 
land  area  of  the  country,  while  the  im- 
proved land  represents  somewhat  over  one 
half,  54.4  per  cent  of  the  total  acreage  of 
land  in  farms.  Improved  land  in  farms 
thus  represents  almost  exactly  one-fourth, 
25.1  per  cent  of  the  total  land  area  of  the 
country.  On  the  average  the  farms  of  the 
United  States  contain  138.1  acres  of  which 
on  the  average,  over  one-half,  75.2  acres, 
are  improved  land.  In  1900,  the  total 
value  of  farms  in  the  country  was  $20,- 
439,901,090  and  in  1910  it  was  almost  ex- 
actly double,  being  $40,991,449,090.  If  the 
same  rate  of  increase  should  maintain  un- 
til 1920,  which,  on  account  of  the  great  in- 
crease in  land  values  and  the  large  in- 
crease in  the  value  of  farm  implements 
seems  probable,  the  farm  lands  of  the 
country  will  have  a value  of  more  than 
$81,000,000,000.  When  we  know  that  the 
total  wealth  in  the  United  States  in  1912, 
at  the  last  estimate  was  $87,000,000,000, 
it  is  not  improbable  that  our  total  wealth 
at  the  coming  date  will  be  $300,000,000,- 
000,  no  doubt  more  than  England,  France 
and  Germany  combined. 

In  1909,  the  last  available  statistics, 
there  were  98,382,665  acres  planted  in 
corn;  35,159,441  acres  in  oats;  44,262,592 
acres  in  wheat;  7,968,706  acres  in  barley; 
878,048  acres  in  buckwheat;  2,195,561 
acres  in  rye;  610,175  acres  in  rough  rice; 
573,622  acres  in  kummer  and  spelt;  1,635,- 
153  acres  in  Kaffir  corn  and  milo  maize. 
These  cereals  then  occupied  40  per  cent  of 

405 


all  farm  lands  in  the  United  States,  and 
contributed  48.6  per  cent  of  the  value  of 
all  crops.  Ohio  was  sixth  in  the  number 
of  acres  cultivated  in  cereals  and  the  value 
of  production,  being  outstripped  by  Mich- 
igan, Iowa,  Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Minne- 
sota, and  yet  Ohio,  in  the  previous  decade 
of  years  had  yielded  more  corn  and  wheat 
per  acre  than  either  of  the  five  States 
which  surpass  her  in  acreage.  Kentucky, 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia  surpass  Ohio 
in  the  number  of  acres  and  value  of  to- 
bacco crop.  Of  this,  in  1909,  Miami  County 
planted  9,224  acres  in  tobacco  and  raised 
8,199,161  pounds  or  an  average  of  about 
900  pounds  to  the  acre.  It  would  sell  for 
more  than  $2,000,000  in  this  year  of  1917. 
The  tobacco  crop  in  Miami  County  this 
year  will  approximate  $2,000,000  in  value. 

In  1909,  Miami  County  harvested  3,481,- 
762  bushels  of  corn  from  71,226  acres,  or 
in  excess  of  48  bushels  to  the  acre.  Only 
one  County  in  the  State  surpassed  her 
acreage,  Madison  County,  with  92,209 
acres  and  3,796,638  bushels,  or  about  41 
bushels  to  the  acre.  Ohio  is  the  first  corn 
State  in  the  Union  and  Miami  County  is 
the  first  corn  County  in  Ohio. 

The  Mosaic  law  says:  “Thou  shalt  not 

let  thy  cattle  gender  with  a diverse  kind; 
thou  shalt  not  sow  thy  field  with  mingled 
seed,”  and  yet  there  are  those  who  advo- 
cate the  virtue  of  hybridization  in  corn. 
The  census  report  of  1900  says : “The  male 
flowers  producing  the  stamens  and  pollen 
are  borne  at  the  top  of  the  plant  and  the 
female  flowers,  being  the  petals  and  pro- 
ducing the  seeds  are  borne  at  the  lower 
nodes  is,  of  course,  to  every  one  familiar 
with  the  corn  plant,  but  the  important  ad- 
vantage which  this  arrangement  affords 
seems  not  to  have  been  appreciated.  With 


406 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


other  crops  belonging  to  the  grass  family 
the  stamens  and  pistils  are  produced  in 
the  same  flower  or  flower  cluster,  and  to 
procure  hybrid  seed,  it  is  necessary  for  the 
breeder  to  perform  the  somewhat  delicate 
operation  of  emasculating  and  to  apply  the 
pollen  to  the  stigmas  by  hand,  laboriously 
hybridizing  one  seed  at  a time. 

In  corn  the  separation  of  the  flowers 
makes  it  easy  to  produce  hybrid  corn  seed 
on  a large  scale.  It  is  only  necessary  to 
plant  in  alternate  rows  and  remove  the 
tassel  of  the  female  to  produce  hybrid  seed 
and  it  is  necessary  that  the  pollen  of  one 
variety  should  fall  on  the  pollen  of  another 
variety.  Where  only  a small  quantity  of 
seed  is  required,  as  for  experimental  pur- 
poses, the  simplest  method  is  to  enclose 
the  ears  before  the  silks  appear,  and  the 
tassels  before  they  begin  to  shed  pollen,  in 
strong  paper  bags,  secured  by  soft  copper 
wire.  The  bags  placed  on  the  tassels  will 
soon  contain  a quantity  of  pollen  which 
should  be  dusted  on  the  silks  after  they 
have  protruded  two  or  three  inches  from 
the  tip  of  the  ear.  As  soon  as  the  ears  are 
pollinated  the  bags  should  be  replaced  to 
protect  them  from  foreign  pollen.  A sec- 
ond or  third  application  of  pollen  at  inter- 
vals of  a day  or  two  may  be  necessary,  in 
order  to  secure  complete  pollination.  The 
relatively  large  quantity  of  seed  procured 
from  a single  pollination  makes  the  pro- 
duction of  hybrid  seed  by  this  method 
practicable,  even  where  considerable  quan- 
tity of  seed  is  required.  One  person  work- 
ing three  hours  a day  for  three  days 
should  secure  two  or  three  hundred  hy- 
brid ears,  and  selecting  these  down  to  one- 
fourth,  the  remaining  fifty  or  seventy-five 
ears  should  plant  from  four  to  six  acres. 

The  average  increase  obtained  by  Dr.  E. 
M.  East,  of  Connecticut,  by  this  method  in 
four  crosses  was  73  per  cent.  Similar  re- 
sults in  New  York  and  Texas  experiments 
conducted  by  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  with  numerous  im- 
ported primitive  types  crossed  with  one 
another  and  with  United  States  varieties, 


gave  increased  yields  in  fourteen  out  of 
sixteen  cases,  the  average  increase  being 
53  per  cent.  C.  G.  Williams,  of  th  Ohio 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  in  Bul- 
letin 282,  February,  1915,  says : “Ear  row 
tests  and  subsequent  crossing  of  the  best 
ears  in  isolated  and  breeding  plots  show 
possibilities  of  increasing  the  yield  of  corn 
five  to  ten  bushels  per  acre,  but  it  seems 
difficult  to  go  much  beyond  this  amount.” 
It  would  seem  that  Ohio  experiments  in 
hybridization  has  not  been  as  successful  as 
in  other  tSates  or  in  the  Government  tests, 
and  for  this  reason  Mr.  George  R.  East- 
wood,  Superintendent  of  the  Miami  Coun- 
ty Experiment  Farm,  informs  me  that 
this  branch  of  corn-growing  has  not  been 
taken  up  in  Miami  County.  It  would  seem 
however,  that  I am  justified  in  calling  the 
attention  of  the  farmers  of  Miami  County 
to  this  subject.  Over  one-half  of  the  Indian 
corn  crop  of  the  United  States  is  contrib- 
uted from  five  States,  and  over  two-thirds 
from  seven  States  in  the  following  order : 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Missouri, 
Indiana,  Ohio.  These  seven  tSates  are 
known  as  the  corn  surplus  States,  because 
they  are  practically  the  only  States  which 
supply  the  commercial  centers  with  corn. 
Twenty-one  of  the  States  produce  corn  but 
consume  it  at  home.  Corn  is  not  grown  in 
Great  Britain,  Ireland,  Germany  and  other 
countries  further  north  except  occasion- 
ally as  a vegetable,  on  account  of  the  lack 
of  heat  and  sunshine  during  the  growing 
season.  Argentina  has  developed  the 
largest  body  of  land  adapted  to  raising  In- 
dian corn  of  any  country  outside  of  the 
United  States.  On  account  of  the  limited 
area  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  this 
plant,  the  land  that  produces  it  is  bound 
to  increase  in  value  as  population  in- 
creases. Indeed,  at  the  rate  of  increase 
in  population,  it  will  be  but  a few  years 
until  the  United  States  will  use  all  of  its 
wheat  and  corn  at  home.  In  1909  Miami 
County  had  18,089  cattle,  of  which  9,904 
were  dairy  cows,  12,776  horses,  676  mules, 
25,771  swine,  5,446  sheep,  179,555  poultry 


PHILLIP  J.  GATES 


The  subject  of  the  above  oortrait  was  born  in  Bensheirr. . Germany,  on  Anril  26,  1841.  His 

parents  came  to  America  during:  his  infancy  and  landed  in  New  Orleans,  from  which  place  they  afterwards 
moved  to  Cincinnati  where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  He  came  to 
Troy  in  1863. 

He  was  married  to  Margaret  Ziegenf elder  on  October  15,  1867,  from  which  union  were  born  George, 
Edwin.  Gertrude  and  Clifford.  George  married  and  from  this  union,  one  son,  Phillip  D.,  was  born,  who 
became  the  apple  of  his  grandfather’s  eye. 

Mr.  Gates  commenced  business  in  his  own  name,  soon  after  his  marriage  and  rapidly  advanced  until 
he  was  the  leading  merchant  tailor  in  Troy  and  among  the  foremost  in  the  Miami  Valley,  occupying  the 
two  rooms  where  the  Troy  National  Bank  is  now  located,  in  1818,  and  besides  a large  store  in  Piqua. 

His  eminence  in  local  business  circles  was  largely  based  on.  his  sincerity.  Urbanity  and  superior  work- 
manship. 

Phillip  J.  Gates  was  not  only  a careful  business  man,  but  equally  sincere  in  the  performance  of 
public  duty.  When  the  legislature  of  Ohio  empowered  the  city  of  Troy  to  issue  $100,000  in  bonds  to 
encourage  the  location  of  manufacturing  concerns,  he  was  one  of  the  three  men  selected  to  supervise  the 
expenditure.  He  also  served  efficiently  for  6 years  as  a member  of  the  school  board  and  for  several 
years  on  the  public  service  board. 

Mr.  Gates  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  One  of  his  last  acts  was  to  write  a 
check  to  pay  his  insurance  in  that  order. 

With  his  partner  and  brother-in-law,  Charles  Ziegenfelder,  he  laid  out  and  sold  two  large  additions 
to  Troy,  one  of  them  the  handsome  Lincoln  and  Garfield  avenue  district. 

He  was  a member  of  Franklin  lodge  of  Masons  and  a member  of  the  Coleman  Commandery  of  Knights 
Templars.  I was  his  confidential  friend  for  40  years  and  in  him  recognized  a man  of  large  social  and 
congenial  qualities. 

He  died  on  July  29,  1910,  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  Cemetery.  His  son,  George,  followed  him  in  1912, 
and  Edwin  in  1913.  His  wife,  daughter  Gertrude,  son  Clifford  and  grandson,  Phillip  D.,  survive  him. 

A high  privilege  of  authorship  is  to  thus  permanently  perpetuate  the  memory  of  so  good  and  useful 
a man,  who  had  in  his  nature  the  capacity  of  true  friendship. 


THE  HOME  OF  FRANK  CLIFFORD  GOODRICH 


Frank  Clifford  Goodrich  was  born  at  Sharon,  Noble  county,  Ohio,  on  July  25,  1874,  and  came  to  Troy 
with  his  parents  in  1883.  He  attended  the  common  schools  at  Sharon  and  Troy  and  later  graduated  from 
the  Troy  high  school.  He  was  made  a bachelor  of  arts  at  the  Ohi<>  Wesleyan  university,  at  Delaware,  Ohio, 
in  1898,  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  H.  H.  Williams  and  Robert  J.  Smith  at  Troy  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  December,  1900.  In  February,  1902,  he  opened  an  office  in  Troy.  In  the  following 
May  he  was  appointed  City  Solicitor  by  Mayor  J.  O.  Davis,  and  was  elected  to  that  office  in  1903  and  again 
in  1905.  He  married  Miss  Eva  Elder  in  June,  1903,  who  had  been  five  years  the  deputy  clerk  of  Miami 
county  and  who  had  been  born  and  raised  in  Troy.  From  this  union  were  born  two  children,  Stanley  and 

Lucy  Goodrich.  Mr.  Goodrich  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Miami  county  in  1914  and  served  with 

distinction  until  1916.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  past  officer,  Troy  lodge  No.  43, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  ; Concord  Encampment  No.  23,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ; Troy  lodge  No.  833,  B.  P.  O.  E.  ; Trojan  lodge  No. 

110,  K.  P.  ; Concord  Castle  No  43,  K.  G.  E.  ; Camp  No  5381,  M.  W.  A.  ; and  Troy  Council  No.  191,  Jr. 

O.  U.  A.  M. 


SAMUEL  WASHINGTON  STERRETT 

Was  born  on  Pretty  Prairie  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  cn  November  19,  1810,  and  was  buund  to  Ben- 
jamin Goodin,  of  Elisabeth  township,  Miami  county,  when  he  was  12  years  of  age.  Aunt  Ellen  Goodin 
being  his  aunt.  He  was  started  out  in  life  at  21  years  of  age,  with  a horse,  bridle,  saddle  and  rifle  and 
followed  the  carpenters  trade.  He  married  Sarah  Ullery,  of  Elisabeth  township  in  1835,  and  from  this 
union  ten  children  were  born,  five  boys  and  five  girls:  Eliza,  in  1836;  Lucinda  in  1838;  William  H.,  in 

1840;  Jacob  R.,  in  1843:  John  A.,  in  1848;  Sarah  Catharine,  in  1852;  Elisabeth  Ellen  in  1854;  Benjamin  G.. 
in  1856  ; and  Luvina  Belle,  in  1860. 

From  1836  to  1840,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  superintended  the  Voorhees  Mills  and  distillery  in  Elisabeth 
township.  From  1840  to  1843,  he  superintended  the  Sheets  mills  in  Section  34,  Elisabeth  township.  In 
1843,  he  purchased  the  Sterrett  mills  and  distillery  on  Honey  creek,  which  he  conducted  for  20  years  in 
person  or  through  employees  except  that  the  distillery  was  discontinued  about  1845  on  account  of  the 
opposition  of  my  mother,  a very  devout  woman,  who  at  that  early  day  was  opposed  to  whiskey  in  any 
form  although  it  was  used  in  practically  every  household  of  that  day.  Soon  after,  my  father  became  a 
member  of  the  McKendre  Society  and  was  officially  connected  with  these  Methodists  until  his  death. 

He  was  a justice  of  the  peace  for  12  years  and  a county  commissioner  for  nine  years  in  Clark  county. 
He  wrote  the  deeds,  contracts  and  other  legal  papers  for  a considerable  area  of  country,  acting  as  assignee, 
administrator  or  executor  in  a large  number  of  cases. 

He  was  a provident  man  but  was  generous  in  church  and  charity.  Having  descended  from  revolutionary 
stock,  he  was  an  intense  patriot.  During  the  Civil  War,  he  presided  often  at  war  meetings  and  was  the 
president  of  the  relief  committee  for  soldiers’  families  for  his  county.  The  following  entry  appears  in  the 
family  Bible  in  his  handwriting:  “Jacob  R.  Sterrett  died  of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 
Georgia,  September  20,  1863.  May  my  posterity  to  the  latest  generation  remember  that  some  of  their  blood 
was  shed  in  defense  of  the  Republic.”  He  was  a self-made  man,  having  received  but  six  months  of  school- 
ing. He  belonged  to  that  early,  rugged  type,  on  whom  dignity  and  power  sat,  strongly  delineated.  He 
died  on  December  28,  1885  and  was  buried  in  McKendrie  church  yard  by  the  side  of  Benny,  Belle  and  Jacob 
R.  His  friend.  Rev.  H.  Y.  Ruhr,  preached  his  funeral  from  the  text,  “For  he  was  a good  man.” 

Samuel  Sterrett  Faulkner,  a grandson  of  Samuel  Washington  Sterrett,  was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio,  on  April 
12,  1880.  Elmer  Mahlon  Faulkner  his  father  was  a prominent  druggist  in  Troy  and  land  owner  in  Clark 
county,  bordering  on  Miami,  who  died  in  Troy,  on  June  22,  1917,  and  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  His 
mother,  Elisabeth  Ellen  Sterrett,  lives  on  the  adjoining  lot  to  her  son  on  Simpson  street  in  Troy.  Sterrett 
graduated  from  the  Troy  high  school  and  from  the  college  of  pharmacy  at  the  Northern  university  of  Ohio, 
at  Ada.  On  October  6,  1902,  he  married  Sadie  Beedle,  from  which  union  one  child  was  born,  Dorothy 
Faulkner.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Troy.  He  is  a member  of  the  United 
Commercial  Travellers.  He  was  connected  for  many  years  with  his  father  in  the  drug  business.  Of  recent 
years,  with  a partner,  he  has  acted  as  the  agent  of  the  Ford  Automobile  company,  with  exclusive  territory 
in  Miami  and  Montgomery  county.  He  is  a clean  cut,  conservative  business  man,  with  an  apparent  future 
of  usefulness.  His  firm  contracted  to  sell  2 000  Ford  automobiles  in  the  year,  1917. 


ALBERT  H.  VANCE 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  the  original  of  the  above  portrait  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  on  February  13,  1833  ; the  son  of  James  Vance  and  Elizabeth  Everhart.  He  was  educated 
principally  at  Moscow,  Clermont  county.  Ohio.  When  Albert  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to 
Troy  and  finished  his  education  under  William  Norris  Edwards. 

On  August  28,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Martha  Ann  Skinner,  from  which  union  four  sons  were 
/>om,  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy  except  Charles  Freeman  Vance.  Returning  from  a hasty  bridal 
trip  to  Cincinnati,  he  attended  a breakfast  at  the  home  of  his  brother-in-law,  Elias  Skinner,  given  in 
honor  of  the  soldiers  from  Troy,  enlisted  in  the  44th  O.  V.  I.  He  left  immediately  for  Springfield, 
Ohio,  as  a member  of  Company  A of  that  regiment,  commanded  by  Captain  Alpheus  Moore,  who 
afterward  became  the  Colonel  of  that  splendid  organization.  He  re-enlisted  in  Company  A of  the 

8th  O.  V.  C.  on  January  4,  1864,  and  was  promoted  to  hospital  steward  and  mustered  out  July  30,  1865. 

On  his  return  to  Troy  he  became  instructor  of  music  in  the  public  schools  cf  T'-oy  and  remained 
in  that  position  until  the  time  of  his  death.  No  man  was  better  known  in  Troy  and  few,  if  any,  were 
better  loved.  He  went  in  and  out  among  the  students  for  more  than  50  years,  a marked  and  remark- 
able figure  of  the  community  which  he  adorned. 

He  was  a lovable  character ; demonstrated  by  the  universal  affection  bestowed  upon  him  by  all 
the  citizens  of  Troy,  especially  by  the  young. 

In  1908,  he  and  his  accomplished  and  lovable  wife  accompanied  his  son,  Charles  Freeman  Vance, 
to  the  Phillipine  Islands,  when  he  was  seventy-six  years  of  age,  and  returned  via  Europe,  thus  com- 
pleting the  circuit  of  the  globe. 

Charles  Freeman  Vance,  the  only  son  of  Albert  H.  Vance,  was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio,  on  October 
15,  1871,  and  educated  in  Troy  High  School  and  the  Ohio  State  University  and  is,  by  occupation,  a 
civil  engineer.  He  was  baptized  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  is  a member  of  Franklin  Lodge  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity. 

He  was  a second  and  first  lieutenant  for  some  years  in  the  Ohio  National  Guard.  He  enlisted  in 
the  41st  U.  S.  Volunteers  in  October,  1899,  and  served  respectively  as  Sergeant.  Quartermaster  Sergeant 
and  Sergeant-Major.  On  March  4,  1901,  he  received  a commission  as  Supervisor  of  Bataan  Provence 
and  acted  under  the  orders  of  William  H.  Taft  and  Fred  Dent  Grant.  He  wras  promoted  to  Pampanga 
Provence  in  1902  and  to  Pangasinan  Provence  in  1904  and  then  to  engineer  of  the  Moro  Provence, 
Department  of  Minranao  and  Sulu,  in  1905.  In  1910  he  was  made  Superintendent  and  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  Iwahig  Penal  Colony. 

He  came  back  to  Troy  in  1915,  since  which  time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  When  the  United  States  declared  war  on  Gel-many,  he  at  once  became  employed  on 
government  work  ; first,  at  Fail-field,  then  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and,  at  present,  at  Jacksonville,  Florida. 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


411 


and  578  colonies  of  bees.  She  had  1,580 
farms,  embracing  90,672  acres,  operated 
by  owners,  and  1,721  farms  operated  by 
tenants,  and  27  farms  operated  by  man- 
agers. We  produced  932,609  eggs.  We  re- 
ceived from  the  sale  of  animals  $645,931, 
and  the  value  of  animals  slaughtered  was 
$235,395. 

INDIAN  CORN 

Have  you  any  idea  what  the  corn  grown 
in  the  United  States  this  year  will  amount 
to?  I have  before  me  the  latest  estimates 
of  the  Agricultural  Department.  From  its 
statisticians,  scattered  throughout  every 
corn-raising  section  of  the  Union,  it  has 
figured  up  the  possibilities.  It  estimates 
the  amount  at  just  about  3,200,000,000 
bushels,  and  you  cannot  buy  a bushel  of 
it  anywhere  for  less  than  $1.40.  The  aver- 
age price  November  1 was  $1.46  per  bu. 
The  total  value  of  the  crop  is  more  than 
$4,000,000,000.  If  it  were  turned  into 
gold  eagles,  worth  $20  each,  there  would 
be  200,000,000  of  them,  so  many  that  if 
the  Wandering  Jew,  who  is  supposed  to 
live  forever,  had  sat  down  before  a pile  of 
such  gold  pieces  100  years  before  the  pil- 
grims landed  on  Plymouth  Rock  and 
counted  a gold  piece  to  the  minute,  from 
then  until  now,  he  would  be  still  on  the 
job. 

The  sum  is  so  great  that  before  the  war 
began  it  would  have  paid  our  public  debt 
four  times  over.  It  is  so  great  that  it  will 
pay  the  interest  on  any  debt  we  are  likely 
to  incur.  At  5 per  cent  it  would  equal  the 
dividends  on  more  than  $80,000,000,000. 
The  crop  this  year  is  equal  in  value  to  all 
the  money  we  had  in  circulation  in  1916. 
It  is  equal  to  more  than  half  the  value  of 
all  our  farm  animals,  and  to  more  than 
that  of  all  the  manufactures  we  exported 
last  year. 

Looking  upon  our  corn  fields  as  one 
great  gold  mine,  we  shall  get  out  of  them 
in  a single  year  more  than  sixteen  times 
as  much  as  all  the  precious  metals  we  have 
taken  from  Alaska  since  we  bought  that 


conutry  from  the  Russians.  We  shall  get 
forty  times  as  much  as  all  the  gold  mined 
in  the  United  States  within  the  past  twelve 
months  and  thrice  as  much  as  all  the  gold 
taken  out  of  South  Africa  since  the  preci- 
ous metal  was  discovered  at  Johannesburg 
many  years  ago. 

The  total  is  more  than  eight  times  as 
great  as  all  the  gold  and  silver  product  of 
the  whole  earth  in  any  one  year  since  the 
world  began.  Moreover,  we  shall  have 
just  as  much  from  this  same  mine  next 
year,  and  for  every  year  during  the  ages 
to  come.  This  gold  mine  renews  itself. 
Like  the  widow’s  cruse,  it  is  always  full, 
and  it  will  feed  the  United  States  to  the 
end  of  time. 

And  now  look  again  at  the  magnitude 
of  the  crop  and  consider  the  mighty  mass 
of  foodstuffs,  of  which  it  is  made.  A 
single  grain  of  corn  planted  in  the  earth 
often  yields  more  than  a thousand  fold.  I 
have  raised  many  an  ear  on  my  farm 
which  had  more  than  900  kernels  on  the 
cob,  and  I have  had  two  or  three  ears  on 
a single  stalk. 

The  volume  of  the  corn  crop  is  beyond 
comprehension.  To  say  that  it  measures 
more  than  3,200,000,000  bushels  of  shelled 
corn  gives  no  idea  of  its  immensity.  To 
see  what  the  figures  mean,  let  us  load  the 
corn  upon  wagons.  We  shall  put  40  bush- 
els, or  more  than  a ton,  in  each  wagon. 
Such  a load  would  be  enough  for  two 
horses.  We  shall  try  to  load  the  whole 
crop  and  shall  start  the  procession  east- 
ward, putting  the  noses  of  the  horses  at 
the  tailboards  of  the  wagons  in  front  of 
them,  allotting  to  each  team  40  feet  on  the 
roadway.  How  far  away  do  you  think  the 
first  wagon  would  be  when  the  last  wagon 
was  moving?  Suppose  we  start  at  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  would  it  be  in  Pittsburg  on 
the  other  side  of  Ohio?  No.  In  Boston, 
on  the  coast  of  the  Atlantic?  No.  Sup- 
pose we  could  bridge  the  ocean,  would  it 
be  where  our  army  is  fighting  in  France? 
No.  The  caravan  would  reach  far  beyond 
that.  It  would  extend  on  and  on  across 


412 


AGRICULTURE  AND  POPULATION 


Russia.  It  would  reach  over  Siberia, 
across  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  come  bach 
to  the  Mississippi  Valley  where  it  started. 
Even  then  the  train  would  have  hardly  be- 
gun, and  not  one-twentieth  of  the  crop 
would  yet  have  been  loaded.  The  train  of 
wagons  would  reach  more  than  600,000 
miles,  sufficient  to  make  a line  of  teams, 
200  abreast,  all  the  way  from  Philadelphia 
to  San  Farncisco.  It  would  fill  200  Lin- 
coln highways  with  solid  corn.  If  we 
could  bridge  the  skies  and  start  the  crop 
toward  the  moon  we  should  have  a double 
row  of  teams,  each  carrying  a ton 
shelled  corn  reaching  from  the  earth  to 
that  dead  planet  and  150,000  miles  be- 
yond. If  we  could  load  it  on  cars  at  1000 
bushels  to  the  car  the  train  would  girdle 
the  globe  at  the  equator  with  many  miles 
to  spare. 

And  this  mass  consists  entirely  of  food- 
stuffs, the  most  nutritious,  the  most  heat- 
ing and  most  energy-producing  of  any 
known  to  man.  The  crop  is  big  enough, 
if  it  were  equally  divided  among  us,  to  sup- 
port the  life  of  the  whole  nation,  and  leave 
some  to  spare.  It  would  give  32  bushels 
to  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  our 
country,  or  enough  to  supply  every  one  of 
our  families  with  three  bushels  of  meal 
every  week  for  the  whole  year  to  come. 

In  actual  quantity  corn  is  the  greatest 
food  crop  of  the  world.  This  year  it  will 
exceed  the  wheat  crop,  which  comes  from 
the  four  quarters  of  the  earth,  and  it  will 
be  of  enormous  value  in  the  war  situation. 
A vast  amount  of  it  will  be  fed  at  home 
and  a caravan  of  ships  will  carry  another 
portion  abroad  in  the  shape  of  meat  and 
corn  meal  to  be  used  to  make  war  bread 
of  one  kind  or  another. 

Indeed,  the  value  of  the  corn  crop  as  a 
war  asset  could  be  greatly  increased,  if 
more  were  used  in  the  shape  of  corn  meal 
instead  of  being  manufactured  into  meat 
on  the  farms.  As  it  is  now  one-fourth  of 
our  corn  is  consumed  by  horses  and  mules, 
another  fourth  is  eaten  by  hogs,  and  sev- 


eral hundred  million  bushels  are  fed  to 
the  cows. 

A vast  amount  goes  to  make  beef,  and 
something  like  60,000,000  bushels  are  an- 
nually consumed  by  our  sheep.  It  is  the 
high  price  of  corn  that  makes  the  high 
price  of  meat,  and  I might  say  also  the 
high  prices  of  other  foods  which  could  be 
replaced  by  our  eating  corn  meal. 

We  might  grind  the  corn  and  ship  it  to 
Europe,  but  the  people  there  have  no  idea 
of  its  value,  with  the  exception,  perhaps, 
as  a stock  food.  The  prejudice  against  it 
is  such  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  in- 
troduce it  except  as  a mixture  with  wheat 
or  rye  flour,  and  the  best  solution  of  the 
problem  will  be  for  us  to  eat  the  corn  at 
home  and  ship  our  wheat  and  wheat  flour 
to  Europe. 


Indeed,  there  is  no  reason  why  corn 
should  not  take  the  place  of  wheat  in 
every  American  family.  As  it  is  now  we 
are  using  a barrel  of  wheat  flour  per  head 
every  year.  A barrel  of  wheat  flour  means 
five  bushels  of  wheat,  and  at  that  estimate 
the  total  amount  of  wheat  taken  to  feed 
us  is  500,000,000  bushels  per  annum. 
Suppose  we  should  exchange  that  wheat 
for  corn,  the  amount  of  corn  consumed 
will  be  less  than  one-sixth  of  our  crop  and 
we  would  have  a half  billion  bushels  more 
wheat  to  feed  our  allies  in  Europe.  Sup- 
pose we  cut  down  our  wheat  flour  con- 
sumption four-fifths,  we  can  send  400,- 
000,000  bushels  across  the  water  and  this 
would  largely  supply  the  food  demands  of 
our  allies.  There  is  no  better  way  in  which 
every  family  in  the  United  States  can  do 
its  bit  than  in  changing  its  bread  diet  from 
wheat  to  corn  in  one  shape  or  another. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  country  we 
had  practically  no  wheat  to  speak  of.  We 
learned  from  the  Indians  how  to  raise  corn 
and  our  colonial  ancestors  were  brought 
up  on  it.  For  decades  after  the  United 
States  became  a nation  the  chief  cereal 
of  the  people  consisted  of  ground  maize 
and  hominy,  and  the  food  was  such  that 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


413 


it  made  them  the  strongest  of  men.  The 
health  of  the  United  States  would  be 
equally  good  today  if  corn  meal  should 
take  the  place  of  wheat  flour. 


I have  before  me  a number  of  estimates 
as  to  the  value  of  corn  as  a food-stuff. 
They  show  that  it  equals,  and,  as  far  as 
the  price  is  concerned,  is  superior  to  al- 
most any  other.  The  late  Surgeon  General 
Billings,  who  had  to  figure  on  the  food  of 
our  army,  estimated  corn  meal  and  wheat 
flour  as  of  about  equal  value,  pound  for 
pound,  in  the  production  of  heat  and  po- 
tential energy.  Dr.  Harvey  Wiley,  when 
he  was  chief  chemist  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  gave  a report  saying  that 
corn  was  about  as  digestible  as  wheat  and 
that  it  was  a most  excellent  food  as  a fat 
producer,  muscle  producer,  bone  producer 
and  blood  producer.  The  National  Asso- 
ciation of  White  Corn  Millers  has  recently 
shown  that  white  corn  flower  can  be  mixed 
with  wheat  flour  in  the  proportion  of  15 
per  cent  in  the  making  of  all  bread  and 
cakes  and  that  such  a mixture  would  save 
$200,000,000  a year  in  the  food  bill  of  the 
country.  This  mixture  has  the  approval 
of  the  National  Government,  including  the 
Council  of  National  Defense. 


The  Bureau  of  Cheimstry  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  has  been  experiment- 
ing for  the  past  four  years  in  the  making 
of  bread  containing  mixtures  of  other 
flours  with  wheat  flour.  It  is  said  that 
their  experiments  show  that  25  per  cent 
of  white  corn  flour  can  be  mixed  with 
wheat  flour  and  the  result  will  be  a better 
bread  from  every  standpoint.  It  is  claimed 
that  the  corn  flour  contains  more  food 
value  than  the  wheat  flour.  The  following 
is  a comparative  analysis  of  the  two: 

Fancy  patent  White 
wheat  flour,  corn  flour. 


Water  13.00  13.00 

Protein  11.00  8.50 

Fat 1.00  1.25 


Carbohydrates 

__  73.90 

75.75 

Fiber 

___  0.50 

0.75 

Ash 

_ 0.60 

0.75 

100.00 

100.00 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  two 
flours  are  about  the  same  in  proteins  and 
carbohydrates.  The  corn  flour  exceeds  in 
fat  and  it  has  also  more  lysine,  a sub- 
stance which  is  favorable  to  bodily 
growth.  What  is  true  of  corn  flour  is  also 
true  of  corn  meal,  and  the  latter  is  much 
cheaper  than  wheat  flour.  A pound  of  corn 
meal,  retailing  at  five  cents,  has  the  same 
food  values  as  ten  cents’  worth  of  wheat 
flour,  ten  cents’  worth  of  rice,  50  cents’ 
worth  of  potatoes,  70  cents’  worth  of  eggs 
and  80  cents’  worth  of  beefstead.  These 
are  facts,  the  results  of  analyses. 

In  1909,  the  value  of  all  crops  in  Mi- 
ami County  was  $3,977,496.  We  had  79,- 
491  apple  trees  and  62,208  bushels  of  ap- 
ples, less  than  a bushel  per  tree,  which 
ought  to  bring  us  to  a realizing  sense  of 
proper  cultivation  and  spraying.  We  had 
20,913  peach  and  nectarine  trees  and  6,- 
398  bushels  on  them.  We  had  18,584  pear 
trees  and  2,436  bushels  of  fruit  on  them. 
We  had  26,868  plum  and  prune  trees  and 
1,221  bushels  of  fruit  on  them.  We  had 
35,132  cherry  trees  and  10,000  bushels  of 
cherries.  We  had  7,688  grape  vines  and 
had  135,190  pounds  of  grapes  or  over  17 
pounds  to  the  vine,  which  ought  to  con- 
vince us  that  we  have  a good  grape  county 
and  that  we  probably  should  plant  more 
and  give  it  as  careful  attention  as  we  do 
our  Indian  corn.  We  had  32  acres  of 
strawberries  and  had  31,000  quarts  which 
at  10  cents  a quart  would  amount  to  $3100 
or  about  $100  per  acre,  which  ought  to 
teach  us  that  Miami  County  is  good  soil 
and  climate  for  strawberries  and  can  be 
grown  with  large  profit. 

The  pioneers  of  Miami  County  culti- 
vated Indian  corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  barley 
and  flax,  but  Indian  corn  then  as  now, 
was  the  principal  crop.  In  the  early  date, 
when  the  soil  was  virgin,  the  same  atten- 


414 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


tion  given  to  the  crop  now  given,  would 
have  produced  more  bushels  then  than 
now,  and  yet  the  production  per  acre  has 
not  varied  much  from  the  beginning.  In 
the  history  of  Miami  County,  1909,  I find 
the  following: 

“Until  1846  there  had  been  no  thought 
of  an  Agricultural  Society.  In  fact,  the 
situation  did  not  demand  one.  As  the 
County  advanced  in  agriculture,  the  needs 
of  an  institution  of  this  kind  became  ap- 
parent.” 

While  this  is  not  by  any  means  a vital 
error,  it  is  nevertheless  a mistake  and 
should  be  corrected.  The  County  Com- 
missioners appropriated  the  sum  of  $35 
in  1836,  ten  years  before  the  Society  was 
formed,  to  the  Miami  County  Agricultural 
Society  “when  organized,”  and  on  two 
other  occasions  in  the  40s,  a similar  sum, 
as  elsewhere  related  in  this  work.  This 
action  of  the  Commissioners  was  evi- 
dently for  the  purpose  of  stimulating 
thought  and  action  toward  the  desired  end 
which  finally  brought  action  in  1846  when 
at  a meeting  called  for  the  purpose,  in 
Troy,  a comimttee  was  appointed,  consist- 
ing of  William  Griffin,  David  H.  Morris, 
William  I.  Thomas  and  William  B.  Mc- 
Clung  to  draft  a constitution  and  by-laws 
for  the  government  of  the  organization, 
resolved  to  be  formed.  The  following  is 
the  constitution  of  the  Miami  County  Ag- 
ricultural Society  reported  by  the  commit- 
tee on  the  26th  of  September,  1846,  at 
which  time  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  President,  William  I.  Thomas; 
Vice  Presidents,  William  C.  Knight,  Cyrus 
Hey  wood,  David  Jenkins;  Corresponding 
Secretary,  D.  H.  Morris;  Recording  Sec- 
retary, G.  D.  Burgess!  Treasurer,  Jacob 
Knoop;  Librarian,  H.  D.  Stoud;  Commit- 
tee on  Agriculture,  John  Hamilton,  chair- 
man ; Daniel  Brown,  James  McClain, 
Zimri  Heald,  William  Giffen. 

The  first  county  fair  was  held  in  the 
barn  of  W.  H.  Gahagan,  on  East  Main 
Street,  and  the  subsequent  fairs  were  held 
in  the  same  place  and  at  the  fair  grounds, 


where  the  Troy  Water  Works  now  stands, 
up  to  1856  when  the  fair  board  purchased 
from  William  Senior  the  ground  on  Union 
Street,  commencing  at  the  point  where 
that  street  crosses  the  canal  and  continu- 
ing to  the  northern  limit  of  the  Fairview 
Addition  to  Troy,  about  40  acres  in  all. 

The  fairs  were  held  here  for  a period  of 
15  years.  In  1871,  Mrs.  Eliza  McKaig 
sold  to  the  Agricultural  Board  the  present 
fair  grounds,  located  one  mile  north  of 
the  Public  Square  in  Troy,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Piqua  turnpike.  Under  a State 
law,  two  directors  are  now  elected  from 
each  township  and  these  24  men  consti- 
tute the  Agricultural  Board,  who  have  full 
charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  Society.  In 
the  past  several  years  there  has  been  an 
attendance  of  not  less  than  20,000  on  “big 
Thursday”  and  the  crowd  on  that  day  this 
year  was  estimated  at  45,000.  The  re- 
ceipts were  larger  than  ever  before. 

In  1916,  a cement  amphitheater  was 
erected  at  a cost  of  $34,000  with  a seating 
capacity  of  2860,  which  will  compare  fa- 
vorably with  any  in  the  tSate.  Some  of 
the  low  records  in  trotting  and  pacing 
have  been  made  on  this  very  excellent  half 
mile  track. 

Article  1.  This  Association  shall  be 
called  The  Miami  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety. 

Article  II.  The  object  of  the  Society 
shall  be  the  circulation  of  general  intelli- 
gence and  practical  instruction  in  all  the 
branches  of  agriculture. 

1.  By  the  establishment  of  a permanent 
library  of  the  best  books  and  periodicals, 
illustrative  of  the  principles  and  practice 
of  the  sciences. 

2.  By  the  establishment  of  a corre- 
spondence with  other  bodies  seeking  the 
same  object. 

3.  By  procuring  the  most  rare  and  val- 
uable kinds  of  seeds,  plants,  shrubs  and 
trees. 

4.  By  the  establishment  of  exhibitions 
at  which  premiums  shall  be  awarded  for 
the  improvements  of  soil,  tillage,  crops, 


AGRICULTURE  AND  POPULATION 


415 


manures,  implements  of  husbandry, 
stocks,  articles  of  domestic  industry,  and 
such  other  articles,  productions  and  im- 
provements as  may  be  deemed  worthy  of 
encouragement;  and  the  adoption  of  other 
means  for  the  general  circulation  of 
knowledge  on  the  subjects  embraced  by 
the  Society. 

Article  III.  The  officers  of  the  Society 
shall  consist  of  a President,  three  Vice- 
Presidents,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Re- 
cording Secretary,  Treasurer,  Librarian, 
Standing  Committee  of  five  persons  on 
Agriculture,  and  a Board  of  Directors  to 
be  composed  of  the  President,  Vice-Presi- 
dents, and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Agriculture,  which  Board  shall  have  the 
charge  and  general  management  of  the 
property  and  business  of  the  Society,  sub- 
ject, however,  to  the  order  and  direction 
thereof. 

Article  IV.  All  the  officers  shall  be 
chosen  by  ballot,  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Society,  which  shall  be  held  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  September  in  each  year  at 
such  hour  and  place  as  the  Directors  shall 
order. 

Art.  V.  All  special  meetings  of  the  So- 
ciety shall  be  called  by  the  Recording  Sec- 
retary on  the  requisition  of  a majority  of 
the  Directors,  or  of  any  five  members, 
made  in  writing  therefor ; a notice  thereof, 
as  well  as  of  all  general  meetings  shall  be 
published  in  one  or  more  of  the  newspa- 
pers of  the  county  fifteen  days  at  least  be- 
fore each  meeting. 

Article  VI.  Any  person  may  become  a 
life  member  of  the  Society  on  the  pay- 
ment of  $10  into  the  Treasury  at  any  one 
time. 

Article  VII.  This  Constitution  may  be 
altered  or  amended  by  the  votes  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  members  present  at  any  reg- 
ular meeting,  providing  the  same  shall 
have  been  proposed  in  writing  at  a previ- 
ous regular  meeting. 

The  following  are  the  subscribers  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  Miami  County  Agri- 
cultural Society: 


Z.  Heald,  Cyrus  Haywood,  Wesley  Hay- 
wood, Daniel  Bates,  James  M.  Dye,  Daniel 
Brown,  L.  H.  Booher,  William  I.  Thomas, 
John  Hamilton,  William  B.  McLung,  Geo. 
Clide,  Joshua  Peck,  James  McCain,  G.  A. 
Clyde,  Joshua  Peck,  James  McCain,  G.  A. 
McLung,  James  Fordyce,  J.  McKaig,  John 
C.  Winans,  H.  S.  Mayo,  G.  D.  Burgess, 
John  B.  Fith,  E.  Parsons,  B.  F.  Brown, 
John  Knoop,  Jacob  Knoop,  John  H.  Knoop, 
George  Knoop,  James  Hoit,  John  C.  Dye, 
Jacob  Rohrer,  John  McLung,  Minor  L. 
Dye,  Samuel  R.  Youart,  James  McCorde, 
William  Barton,  Andrew  D.  Sayres,  Moses 
H.  Branson,  Joseph  Brown,  Isaac  T.  Rol- 
lins, James  Brown,  J.  M.  McCampbell, 
James  T.  Orbison,  H.  Smead,  S.  K.  Orr, 
George  A.  Murray,  F.  N.  Marley,  Philip 
Trabing,  William  Cottingham,  C.  B. 
Clarke,  Isaac  Peck,  Joseph  Pearson,  Wil- 
liam K.  Cromer,  Findley  Telford,  M.  Dye, 
John  D.  Fowler,  Jacob  Knoop,  Jr.,  Wil- 
liam Giffen,  L.  Riley,  D.  Jenkins,  D.  R. 
Tullis,  James  Telford,  A.  Morris,  B.  F. 
Tullis,  James  Murphy,  A.  W.  McNabb, 
Isaac  Pearson,  John  Syp,  Mr.  Correy, 
John  McCullough,  Thomas  Pearson,  Rob- 
ert Pearson,  Jr.,  David  Gibbs,  Daniel  Rice, 
William  Tullis,  John  Peck,  Samuel  Pearce, 
J.  M.  Hart,  Martin  Kessler,  A.  Fenner, 
William  C.  Knight,  John  H.  Wolcott,  H.  D. 
Stout,  Thomas  Jay,  Henry  Cecil,  Israel 
Kessler,  Daniel  Collins,  Philip  A.  Smith, 
H.  Chase,  Thomas  Wilmington,  R.  W. 
Smith,  S.  J.  Green,  J.  G.  Hart,  Moses  E. 
Long,  Clark  Sutton,  Daniel  F.  Sutton,  H. 
P.  Dye,  Charles  Felix,  J.  H.  DeWeese, 
Thomas  Orbison,  Asa  Coleman,  David 
Frazer,  Henry  Kessler,  Joseph  C.  Stock- 
ton,  J.  D.  Harter,  James  H.  Telford,  Wil- 
liam Swailes,  John  Wilson,  John  Clark, 
Henry  Teneick,  James  Fenner,  James  Lef- 
fel,  Richard  Mclntire,  William  Telford,  B. 
N.  Moore,  Sol  Jones,  Robert  Ramsey,  O. 
S.  Thomas,  E.  V.  Covault,  George  Ramsey, 
L.  J.  Abbott,  N.  Sherman,  E.  Vaugant, 
Nathaniel  Fish,  Jerry  Fenner,  S.  R.  Drury, 
Henry  DeBra,  John  Cecil,  William  Stew- 
art, Murray  Telford,  S.  Leapley,  Henry 


416 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Girard,  James  McCandless,  William  Cot- 
tingham,  B.  B.  Reid,  A.  Gaskill,  D.  C. 
Hathaway,  William  Dunlap,  M.  M.  Mun- 
son, John  M.  Harker,  J.  Leffel,  A.  F.  Mun- 
ger,  D.  D.  Odaffer. 

The  By-Laws  of  the  Miami  County  Ag- 
ricultural Society  are  as  follows : 

I.  Each  member  shall  pay  annually  into 
the  treasury  the  sum  of  $1.00;  any  mem- 
ber who  shall  fail  to  pay  his  annual  assess- 
ment or  any  fine  or  forfeiture  on  account 
of  books  taken  from  the  library  for  the 
space  of  ninety  days  after  the  annual 
meeting  shall  then  cease  to  be  a member 
of  the  Society,  and  forfeit  all  his  rights 
and  privileges  as  such,  and  to  the  library 
and  other  property  belonging  to  the  So- 
ciety. 

II.  All  books  save  such  as  the  Board  of 
Directors  may  except,  may  be  taken  from 
the  library  on  Saturday  of  each  week.  No 
book  shall  be  detained  from  the  library  for 
more  than  two  weeks,  under  a penalty  of 
5 cents  for  each  day  it  shall  be  detained 
beyond  that  period ; and  any  member  lend- 
ing a book  belonging  to  the  Society  shall 
pay  as  a penalty  therefor  the  sum  of  $1.00. 

III.  Any  member  who  shall  lose  a book 
belonging  to  the  Society  shall  pay  for  the 
volume  or  set  as  assessed  by  the  librarian. 

IV.  No  money  shall  be  paid  by  the 
Treasurer  unless  upon  a written  order  of 
a majority  of  the  Directors. 

V.  A record  of  payment  of  assessment 
or  subscription  shall  be  the  evidence  of 
proprietorship  for  the  year  it  is  so  paid. 

VI.  The  Treasurer,  at  such  annual 
meeting,  and  so  often  as  he  may  be  re- 
quired, shall  render  an  account  of  all  re- 
ceipts and  disbursements  of  the  Society 
for  the  year  then  passed. 

VII.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall 
keep  the  records  of  the  meetings  and  their 
proceedings  and  at  each  annual  meeting 
report  a list  of  members  of  the  Society 


and  also  of  those  who  have  forfeited  their 
rights  as  members. 

VIII.  The  librarian  shall  keep  a cata- 
logue of  all  the  books  in  the  library  and 
shall  assess  all  fines  for  loss,  damage  or 
detention  of  any  book  therein;  also,  keep 
an  account  of  all  books  taken  out  by  mem- 
bers. 

IX.  The  Society  shall,  in  addition  to 
annual  meetings,  hold  three  other  meet- 
ings, on  the  first  Thursday  of  the  months 
of  December,  March  and  June  in  each 
year  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  addresses, 
discussing  questions,  and  receiving  reports 
on  the  several  subjects  embraced  by  the 
Society. 

X.  No  alteration  shall  be  made  in  any 
of  these  by-laws,  except  at  one  of  the  reg- 
ular meetings,  written  notice  thereof  hav- 
ing been  given  at  a previous  regular  meet- 
ing. 

The  first  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Miami 
County  Agricultural  Society  was  held  De- 
cember 5,  1846,  at  which  an  appropriation 
was  made  for  the  purchase  of  a library, 
after  which  Mr.  Thomas,  President  of  the 
Society,  addressed  the  meeting  on  the  sub- 
ject of  “Scientific  Husbandry,”  which  was 
discussed  in  a masterly  manner,  and  lis- 
tened to  with  rapt  attention,  by  an  appre- 
ciative audience.  That  his  remarks  had  a 
practical  bearing  may  be  inferred  from  the 
fact  that  the  Board  immediately  resolved 
that  the  circulation  of  the  Ohio  Cultivator 
among  the  members  would  be  highly  con- 
ducive to  their  interests  and  the  same  was 
therefore  recommended  to  the  farmers  for 
their  patronage.  The  library  was  pur- 
chased in  the  winter  of  1846,  about  $70.00 
having  been  previously  appropriated  for 
that  purpose. 

Presidents 


1847-1850 — William  I.  Thomas. 
1850-1852 — Dr.  Asa  Coleman. 
1852-1853 — William  B.  McLung. 

1854 —  S.  K.  Harter. 

1855- 1860 — W.  H.  Gahagan. 


agriculture  and  population 


417 


1861—  W.  H.  H.  Dye. 

1862 —  Isaac  S.  Sheets. 

1863— 1866— W.  B.  McLung. 

1867 —  B.  F.  Brown. 

1868—  W.  H.  H.  Dye. 

1869 —  W.  B.  McLung. 

1870 —  William  B.  McLung. 

1871 —  W.  B.  McLung. 

1872— 1873 — Newton  Smithers. 

1874—  J.  W.  Ross. 

1875- 1877 — Lewis  Hayner. 

1878- 1880— M.  W.  Hays. 

1882 —  Lewis  Hayner. 

1883 —  David  DeWeese. 

1884— 1885— F.  B.  McNeal. 
1886-1887 — D.  C.  Brannon. 
1888-1889— W.  B.  Cox. 

1890 —  D.  M.  Coppock. 

1891- 1893— W.  I.  Kiser. 
1894-1899— Chas.  B.  Scott. 
1900-1907 — W.  F.  Robbins. 

1908- 1917— Geo.  A.  Frye. 

Secretaries 

1847-1848— Blank. 

1849-1853 — M.  M.  Munson. 

1854 —  Blank. 

1855 —  R.  W.  Furnas. 

1856 —  George  Morris. 

1857— 1858— C.  W.  Morris. 

1859 —  Blank. 

1860- 1861— C.  W.  Morris. 

1862—  C.  T.  Baer. 

1863- 1865— C.  W.  Morris. 

1866 —  W.  H.  Gahagan. 

1867 —  William  H.  Gahagan. 

1868 —  W.  H.  Gahagan. 

1869 —  Blank. 

1870 —  J.  W.  Ross. 

1871— 1874 — S.  R.  Drury. 

1875 —  F.  M.  Sterrett. 

1876- 1878— W.  A.  R.  Tenney. 

1879- 1880 — A.  M.  Heywood. 

1881- 1882 — J.  C.  Chamberlain. 

1882- 1908 — W.  I.  Tenney. 

1909- 1917 — Charles  D.  Martin. 


ALFALFA  IS  ALSO 

GOOD  FOR  HUMANS 


Homeopathists  Declare  It  a Coming  Drug. 
Physicians  Also  Favor  the  Cause 
of  National  Prohibition. 


(Cincinnati  Enquirer  July  2,  1914.) 

Chicago,  July  2. — Alfalfa,  which  is  at- 
tracting such  wide  attention  in  agricul- 
tural circles,  was  a topic  of  discussion  from 
a widely  different  viewpoint  at  the  annual 
convention  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Homeopathy  which  was  concluded  here  to- 
day. 

Alfalfa  as  a remedy  for  indigestion  and 
mental  depression  was  recommended  by 
Dr.  Alexander  L.  Blackwood,  of  Chicago. 
He  told  of  experiments  made  with  the  new 
remedy  at  a Chicago  hospital. 

“During  the  last  year  observations  were 
made  of  the  action  of  alfalfa  on  17  per- 
sons,” he  said.  “All  of  them  noted  that 
they  grew  so  hungry  that  they  could 
scarcely  wait  for  their  meals.  Their  minds 
were  clear  and  bright,  all  bodily  functions 
were  stimulated  and  it  was  impossible  to 
have  the  blues.” 

The  alfalfa  is  converts  into  a tincture 
and  administered  internally,  according  to 
Dr.  Blackwood.  The  tincture  is  known  as 
Medicago  Sativa. 

“Dr.  Ben  Bradley,  of  Hamlet,  Ohio,  also 
made  experiments  with  alfalfa,”  said  Dr. 
Blackwood,  “and  he  believes  it  to  be  a com- 
ing drug.  It  stimulates  digestion  and  will 
prove  of  great  value  in  dealing  with  loss 
of  appetite.  It  does  not  act  as  a stimulant 
in  the  same  sense  as  liquor.” 

The  above  dispatch,  induced  me  to  pre- 
pare in  a crude  way,  an  extract  from  green 
alfalfa,  taken  from  my  Fairview  farm,  a 
part  of  which  is  in  the  corporation  in  the 
southern  portion  of  Troy.  I boiled  the  sub- 
stance out  of  the  alfalfa,  suppressing  as 
much  evaporation  as  possible  and  had  sev- 
eral gallons  in  jugs  and  bottles.  At  the 
time  I had  little  appetite  and  commenced 
the  use  of  my  extract  without  any  knowl- 


418 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


edge  or  advice  as  to  the  dose,  but  used  a 
tablespoonful  three  times  a day  before  my 
meals,  and  found  I became  hungry  for  my 
meals  as  never  before.  My  work  was  per- 
formed with  greater  enthusiasm,  and  I 
found  all  of  the  benefits  set  forth  in  the 
dispatch  from  Chicago. 

I asked  our  homeopathic  physician  of 
Troy,  Dr.  J.  W.  Means,  in  reference  to  al- 
falfa as  a medicine  and  he  informed  me 
he  had  been  using  a tincture  in  his  prac- 
tice for  a few  years  and  found  it  had  vir- 
tue. I wrote  to  Dr.  Bradley,  mentioned 
in  the  Chicago  dispatch,  who  corroborated 
all  that  had  been  reported  of  him.  I have 
several  gallons  in  my  cellar  and  have  given 
some  of  it  away  to  my  friends  who  report 
favorably  upon  its  use.  I am  satisfied  it 
is  a good  medicine  and  therefore  present 
it  in  this  work  under  the  article  on  agri- 
culture. Its  bitter  taste  is  remedied  with 
peppermint  oil. 

In  1847,  the  land  between  Market  and 
Walnut  Streets,  in  Troy,  on  the  west  of 
the  canal  was  pasture  and  so  far  as  we 
have  been  able  to  discover,  it  was  here  that 
the  first  blooded  cattle  were  brought  to 
Miami  County  and  sold.  Judge  Holt,  of 
Dayton,  brought  a herd  of  Durhams  here 
and  turned  them  loose  in  this  pasture. 
They  were  all  pedigreed  and  sold  by  Sam- 
uel 0.  Binkley,  the  public  auctioneer  of 
that  day.  The  cows  sold  from  ten  to  fif- 
teen dollars  per  head  and  the  calves  from 
ten  to  seventeen  dollars. 

John  L.  Meredith,  for  so  many  years  the 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Troy,  brought  the  pedigreed  Devons  here 
from  Lafayette,  Indiana,  probably  at  the 
suggestion  of  William  Barbee,  who  had 
moved  there  from  Troy,  but  who  always 
retained  an  active  interest  in  the  commu- 
nity which  he  had  done  so  much  to  develop. 
This  was  in  1860.  This  herd  was  sold  to 
David  Whitmore,  of  Casstown,  who  exhib- 
ited at  every  fair  in  Miaim  County  for 
many  years  and  kept  them  constantly  be- 
fore the  public  at  the  fairs  in  and  out  of 
Ohio,  during  the  fall  season. 


In  1860,  Newton  Smithers  brought  over 
the  English  Norman  draft  horse.  He  was 
a Kentuckian,  fond  of  horses  and  did  much 
to  bring  up  the  stock  while  he  lived  here. 
In  1855  John  Drury,  afterward  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Perrysville,  Ky.,  as  a captain 
in  the  94th  0.  V.  I.,  brought  the  Morgan 
road  horse  to  the  County.  In  1860  Charles 
McCullough  introduced  the  Jersey  cattle 
and  subsequently  introduced  the  Abdallah 
road  horse  and  brought  some  of  the  earlier 
improved  agricultural  implements.  In  1875 
Mr.  Wood,  of  Piqua,  introduced  the  Clydes- 
dale draft  horse  and  Merino  sheep  into  the 
County.  In  1875,  Noah  Albaugh,  of  Bethel 
Township,  showed  the  Holstein  breed  at 
the  Miami  County  Fair  for  the  first  time. 

POPULATION  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES,  1910. 


Alabama  2,138,093 

Arkansas 1,574,449 

California 2,377,549 

Colorado  709,024 

Connecticut 1,114,756 

Delaware 202,322 

Florida 762,619 

Georgia  2,609,121 

Idaho 325,594 

Illinois 5,638,591 

Indiana  2,700,876 

Iowa 2,224,771 

Kansas 1,690,949 

Kentucky 2,289,905 

Louisiana  1,656,388 

Maine 742,371 

Maryland 1,295,345 

Massachusetts 3,366,416 

Michigan 2,810,173 

Minnesota 2,075,708 

Mississippi  1,797,114 

Missouri  3,293,335 

Montana  376,053 

Nebraska  1,192,214 

Nevada  81,875 

New  Hampshire  430,572 

New  Jersey  2,537,167 

New  York  9,113,614 

North  Carolina  2,206,287 

North  Dakota  577,650 


Greenville  Falls,  Newberry  Township 


Troy  Public  Square 


HOME  OF  M.  13.  MICHELSON,  PIQUA 

MAURICE  BERNARD  MICHELSON 

Was  born  December  14,  1873,  in  the  little  town  of  Kobhna,  in  Russia,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
England  when  he  was  four  years  of  age  and  three  years  later  moved  to  America,  landing  at  New  York, 
where  he  remained  for  20  years  and  where  he  received  most  of  his  education.  In  1900  he  came  to  Piqua, 
Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  clothing  business.  In  1909  he  opened  a branch  in  Troy,  where 
he  is  numbered  among  Troy’s  most  enterprising  merchants.  He  married  Mary  Beeton  on  Sept.  15,  1899, 
and  from  this  union  7 children  were  born,  one  of  which  died  in  infancy,  the  others  living,  Leonard,  Russell, 
Maurice,  Rose  Ethel,  Louis  Isaac,  Helen  and  Maxmillian. 

His  wife  was  a gentile,  but  after  marriage,  joined  her  husband  in  The  Jewish  faith  and  worship. 

Mr.  Michelson  was  brought  up  in  the  clothing  business  and  has  been  in  business  for  himself  in  that  line 
for  the  past  25  years.  His  pretty  home  in  Piqua  is  the  center  of  a very  happy  family. 


AGRICULTURE  AND  POPULATION 


423 


Ohio  4,767,121 

Oklahoma  1,657,155 

Oregon 672,765 

Pennsylvania  7,665,111 

Rhode  Island 542,610 

South  Carolina 1,515,400 

South  Dakota 583,888 

Tennessee  2,184,789 

Texas 3,896,542 

Utah  373,351 

Vermont  355,956 

Virginia  2,061,612 

Washington  1,141,990 

West  Virginia  1,221,119 

Wisconsin  2,333,860 

Wyoming  145,965 

Arizona 204,354 

New  Mexico 327,301 

District  of  Columbia 331,069 


Total  population 91,972,266 

Philippines  7,635,426 

Guam 9,000 

Samoa  6,100 

Panama  Canal  Zone 50,000 

Alaska 64,356 

Hawaii 191,909 

Porto  Rico 1,118,012 

Persons  in  military  and 
naval  service  stationed 
abroad  50,000 


Grand  total 101,097,069 


At  the  rate  of  increase  from  1900  to 
1910,  the  United  States  will  have  a popu- 
lation of  over  120,000,000  in  1920.  The 
population  of  the  Philippines  will  have  to 
be  deducted  from  this  number  when  they 
are  granted  self-government. 


POPULATION  OF  OHIO 


1800 

..  45,365 

I860-  . 

-__2,399,511 

1810  __ 

230,760 

1870__. 

-_2,665,260 

1820 

581,434 

1880__. 

-_3,198,062 

1830  . 

937,903 

1890--. 

. _3,672,329 

1840 

. -1,519,467 

1900 

-_4.157,545 

1850  . 

1,980,329 

1910_  . 

-_4,767,121 

During  the  decade  between  1900  and 
1910  the  population  of  Ohio  increased  a 
fraction  over  14  per  cent.  At  the  same 
rate  of  increase  the  population  of  Ohio  in 
1920  will  be  about  5,350,000. 

The  land  area  of  Ohio  in  1910  was  40,- 
740  square  miles  and  that  of  Miami 
County  408  square  miles,  or  less  than  the 
one-hundredth  part  of  the  whole  State, 
and  yet  there  are  but  18  Counties  in  the 
State  surpass  it  in  wealth.  See  page  142 
of  this  work. 

POPULATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


1820__  . 

- _ 8,851 

1870---. 

-__32,740 

1830 

12,807 

1880  . 

36,158 

1840 

19,688 

1890  - 

. 39,754 

1850 

24,999 

1910—  . 

. --45,047 

1860 

. 29,999 

Miami  County  grew  in  population  from 
1900  to  1910  about  2,000  which  means  that 
the  population  of  Miami  County  in  1920 
will  be  about  47,000.  The  growth  of  the 
County  in  recent  years  has  been  almost 
exclusively  confined  to  the  cities,  towns 
and  villages.  The  suburban  population  in 
1910  was  less  in  every  locality  than  it  was 
in  1900.  Each  of  the  six  townships  east 
of  the  Miami  had  less  population  in  1910 
than  in  1900  and  but  for  the  growth  in  the 
towns  and  villages  each  of  the  six  town- 
ships west  of  the  river  would  have  had  a 
less  population  in  1910.  This  fact  is  of 
vital  importance.  It  means  that  country 
life  is  unpopular  and  that  young  men 
abandon  the  farm  at  the  earliest  moment. 
It  means  that  machinery  must  be  produced 
and  used  that  will  largely  increase  the 
ability  of  those  who  remain  on  the  farm 
to  produce  that  which  we  eat,  or  that  there 
must  be  a movement  back  to  the  soil.  At 
the  rate  of  increase  of  population  in  the 
past,  we  will  soon  consume  all  we  pro- 
duce now. 

Of  the  45,047  population  in  Miami 
County,  22,468  are  males  and  22,579  are 
females,  of  which  21,903  are  white  males 
and  22,033  are  white  feamles.  There  are 


424 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


563  negro  males  and  546  negro  females. 
There  are  13,962  voters  in  the  County  and 
about  two  and  one-half  per  cent  of  them 
are  illiterate.  There  are  11,954  of  school 
age  and  7,892  attend  school  or  66  per  cent. 
There  are  11,455  dwellings  and  11,864 
families  in  Miami  County. 

POPULATION  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 
BY  TOWNSHIPS 

Bethel  Township  1,550,  a loss  of  46 
since  1900. 

Brown  Township,  including  Fletcher 
Village,  1,518,  a loss  of  113  since  1900. 
Fletcher  Village,  376. 

Concord  Township,  including  Troy  City 
7,341,  Troy  City  6,122.  Ward  1,  1,850; 
Ward  2,  1,256;  Ward  3,  1,596;  Ward  4, 
1,420. 

Elizabeth  Township,  1,078,  a loss  of  66 
since  1900. 

Lostcreek  Township,  including  Cass- 
town  Village  1,135;  a loss  of  11  since  1900. 
Casstown  Village,  265,  a loss  of  3 since 
1900. 

Monroe  Township,  including  Tippecanoe 
City  village,  3,222.  Tippecanoe  City  Vil- 
lage, 2,038. 

Newberry  Township,  including  Coving- 
ton Village  and  part  of  Bradford  Village, 
5,126;  part  of  Bradford  Village,  1,175; 
Covington  Village  1,848. 

Newton  Township,  including  Pleasant 
Hill  Village,  2,566;  Pleasant  Hill  Village, 
571. 

Springcreek  Township,  1,342,  a loss  of 
80  since  1900. 

Stanton  Township,  1,034,  a loss  of  154 
since  1900. 

Union  Township,  including  Laura,  New 
Lebanon  and  West  Milton  Villages,  4,459; 
Laura  Village,  362 ; New  Lebanon  Village, 
227 ; West  Milton,  1,207. 

Washington  Township,  including  Piqua 
City,  14,676;  Piqua  City,  13,388;  Ward  1, 
2,695;  Ward  2,  4,042;  Ward  3,  3,251; 
Ward  4,  3,400. 


LAST  INDIAN  IN  MIAMI  COUNTY 

Section  31  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
Elizabeth  Township;  Section  32,  33  and 
34  immediately  north  on  the  border  of 
Staunton  Township. 

At  an  altitude  of  820  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea,  in  the  south  east  section 
34,  a spring  bubbles  from  the  earth  with 
considerable  force  and  forms  the  head- 
waters of  Wanger  Creek,  taking  its  name 
from  the  last  Indian  who  lived  in  Miami 
County.  The  stream  flows  southward, 
through  sections  32,  past  Grayson’s  Sta- 
tion on  the  Big  Four  Railroad,  through 
section  31,  and  empties  into  Honey  Creek, 
a few  hundred  feet  from  the  Bethel  Town- 
ship line. 

At  this  spring,  Wanger,  a Miami  In- 
dian, erected  his  cabin  and  lived  there 
with  his  son  from  about  the  end  of  the 
war  of  1812  to  1820,  subsisting  on  deer 
meat  and  other  wild  animals,  trading  furs 
for  meal  and  flour.  The  land  along  the 
course  of  Wanger  Creek  was  low,  and 
sometimes  swampy.  A few  years  ago, 
when  the  Knoop  ditch  was  being  con- 
structed, a large  beaver  dam  was  discov- 
ered on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
32,  just  south  of  what  was  long  known 
as  the  Wanger  Springs  Dairy,  conducted 
by  Isaac  Sheets,  the  grandson  of  the  owner 
of  the  Sheets  Mills,  about  which  we  have 
written. 

Captain  Williams  says  in  his  historical 
sketches : 

“Wanger  was  a peaceful  Indian,  noted 
for  his  love  of  money,  for  he  never  spent 
a cent  on  clothing,  drink  or  provisions.” 

It  is  not  quite  strange  that  Wanger  was 
peaceful,  for  all  Indians  who  made  their 
home  in  Miami  County,  after  the  white 
man  came,  were  peaceful  with  the  single 
exception  of  the  two  who  murdered  the 
Dilbone  family  in  1813,  which  was  really 
the  result  of  a former  quarrel  and  not 
that  there  was  an  armed  force  then,  or  at 
any  other  time  on  the  warpath  within  the 
borders  of  the  County,  after  the  white 


AGRICULTURE  AND  POPULATION 


425 


man  came  here.  It  does  seem  peculiar 
that  he  never  purchased  clothing  of  any 
kind.  The  Captain,  no  doubt,  had  good 
authority  for  that  particular  statement, 
which  came  to  him  not  from  written  data, 
but  by  word  of  mouth  from  old  settlers. 
The  facts  I have  stated  came  from  my 


father,  who  lived  for  some  years  in  sec- 
tion 34,  where  the  Wanger  Spring  had  its 
origin.  At  the  time  he  superintended  the 
Sheets  Mills  and  Distillery  heretofore  re- 
ferred to.  It  is  not  important  other  than 
as  an  incident  of  the  gradual  extinguish- 
ment of  the  Red  Man.  Where  Wanger 
migrated  is  purely  a surmise. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

ABOUT  RELIGION 


I am  of  the  opinion  that  any  extended 
history  of  denominational  church  organi- 
zations is  not  called  for  in  a County  his- 
tory ; that  the  rise  and  growth  of  one  or- 
ganization is  the  practical  parallel  of  each 
of  the  others.  I have  therefore  sought  to 
describe  the  one  I know  best.  The  records 
of  each  organization  in  the  County  have 
been  fairly  well  kept,  but  have  special  in- 
terest only  to  one  community  and  small 
interest  to  the  other  79  communities. 

There  have  been  changes  of  opinion 
about  the  existence  of  a literal  hell  since 
the  pioneer  log  church  days;  there  have 
been  changes  in  the  style  of  pulpit  oratory 
and  of  church  architecture.  Our  forbears 
would  be  shocked  to  come  back  today  and, 
entering  one  of  our  fashionable  churches, 
listen  to  the  fiddle  and  many  other  string 
and  wind  instruments  used  in  our  present 
day  church  worship,  and  yet  these  changes 
from  the  primitive  times  has  witnessed 
the  constant  growth  of  a higher  civiliza- 
tion, of  which  we  have  a right  to  boast. 
It  is  possible  we  have  too  many  churches 
and  that  the  necessary  religious  instruc- 
tion in  our  various  communities  might  be 
efficiently  conducted  with  a fewer  number. 
Troy  has  13  church  houses  that  cost  to 
build  about  $300,000  and  the  lots  on  which 
they  stand  are  worth  about  $25,000  in  ad- 
dition, and  we  pay  our  preachers  some 
$15,000  per  annum,  and  yet  the  average 
attendance  in  all  the  churches  does  not 
exceed  500.  It  costs  about  $100  per  year, 
per  person,  to  impart  religious  training  in 
Troy.  The  central,  salient  doctrine  of 
each  is  the  redemption  of  man  through 
the  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God.  It  puzzles  many  to  know  why,  in 
order  that  this  great  truth  may  be  im- 
426 


pressed  on  the  human  heart  and  mind  that 
it  seems  necessary  to  create  so  many  isms 
about  it.  There  is  no  practical  difference 
between  the  Methodists  and  Baptists  ex- 
cept the  former  administer  the  rite  of  bap- 
tism by  both  immersion  and  sprinkling, 
while  the  latter  administers  the  rite  by  im- 
mersion alone.  I believe  most  church  doc- 
trines do  not  regard  either  method  as  es- 
sential to  salvation  and  therefore,  why  not 
the  Baptist  and  Methodist  congregations, 
on  opposite  corners  of  Franklin  and 
Cherry  Streets,  unite?  Either  auditorium 
would  easily  hold  both  average  congrega- 
tions. About  one-half  the  world  believe 
in  Buddha  and  the  transmigration  of  souls 
and  in  this,  is  in  opposition  to  the  other 
half  of  the  world’s  population.  About  one- 
fourth  of  the  world  of  men  and  women  be- 
lieve in  God  and  that  “Mohammed  is  his 
only  prophet.”  The  other  one-fourth  in 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  The  Mo- 
hammedan and  Christian  religions  do  not 
differ  materially  except  as  to  God’s  Vice 
Regent.  If  we  are  expending  more  time 
and  money  than  actually  produces  good 
results,  or  if  we  could  produce  as  good  or 
better  results  with  less  expenditure,  it 
would  seem  best  to  do  that  very  thing,  but 
so  long  as  we  are  expending,  in  other  de- 
partments of  life,  largely  more  than  the 
returns  justify  and  on  some  lines  very 
largely  without  any  return  of  good  what- 
ever, may  be  we  had  best  reform  the  worst 
first  and  then  turn  our  attention  to  econ- 
omy in  religious  matters,  if  it  should  be 
concluded  that  the  saving  could  be  placed 
to  a better  use.  The  doctrine  of  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  Savior  of  mankind  is  a beau- 
tiful doctrine  and  the  character  of  the 
lowly  Nazarene  was  the  most  perfect  in 
history.  It  was  a doctrine  good  enough 


RELIGION 


427 


for  my  mother  to  live  and  die  by  and  it  is 
good  enough  for  me  to  believe  in  and  in  a 
large  measure  be  guided  by. 

When  17  years  of  age,  I drove  my  friend 
Wm.  A.  Robinson,  now  an  eminent  divine 
of  the  Cincinnati  Conference,  with  whom 
I had  attended  the  grammar  department 
of  the  Troy  schools  in  1862-63  and  after- 
ward the  Ohio  University,  to  Newson 
Chapel,  some  12  miles  east  of  Troy,  to 
preach  his  first  sermon  as  a licensed  ex- 
porter in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
In  his  sermon  he  likened  prayer  to  a lo- 
comotive engine.  One  drove  the  blue  devils 
of  temptation  from  one’s  path  and  the 
other  cattle  from  the  track,  and  in  imita- 
tion of  a locomotive  he  whistled  in  the  pul- 
pit, for  which,  on  the  road  home,  I up- 
braided him  as  theatrical;  and  while  I do 
not  regard  the  act  now  as  profanation  as 
I did  then,  I still  think  it  was  a mighty 
weak  imitation  of  a locomotive  whistle. 

When  a student  at  Delaware  Ed  Thomp- 
son, a son  of  the  bishop,  had  spent  a vaca- 
tion season  at  my  home  and  we  had  be- 
come good  friends.  It  was  natural  he 
should  invite  me  to  hear  him  preach  his 
first  sermon,  when  he  was  but  17  years 
of  age,  in  the  ilttle  white  frame  church, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Olentangy 
River,  from  the  University.  He  was  an 
eloquent  young  man  and  as  full  of  mis- 
chief as  an  egg  is  of  meat.  His  sermon 
covered  the  immaculate  conception  and 
for  his  choice  of  text,  I chided  him  on  our 
return.  That  he  cared  little  for  what  I 
said  was  evidenced  when  we  arrived  at 
the  middle  of  the  suspension  wire  bridge 
hanging  over  the  river  by  which  a for- 
ward and  backward  movement  of  the  body 
could  be  made  to  swing  out  of  center  a 
few  feet  each  way.  He  commenced  the 
necessary  motion  and  asked  me  to  join 
him  in  making  some  of  his  congregation, 
coming  behind,  lose  their  balance.  This 
action  caused  me  to  tell  him  he  had  little 
religion  and  ought  not  to  perach,  and 
while  I do  not  regard  his  action  now  as 
seriously  as  I did  then,  I still  think  it  was 


his  duty,  as  a professed  teacher  to  help 
people  keep  their  feet,  rather  than  throw 
them  off.  On  another  vacation  visit  to  me 
he  preached  at  the  “old  ship,”  on  Mul- 
berry Street  to  the  great  satisfaction  of 
his  hearers. 

I have  known  many  preachers  and  for 
some  of  them  I have  had  a high  admira- 
tion and  for  others  a profound  contempt. 
I dislike  to  believe  that  in  this  chosen 
calling  the  per  cent  of  insincere  men  is 
as  high  as  among  laymen,  but  I fear  it 
is  entirely  too  high.  I once  contributed 
an  article  to  one  of  our  papers,  covering 
the  same  view  about  religious  improvi- 
dence as  set  forth  above  and  the  article 
received  adverse  criticism  from  another 
paper,  edited  by  a preacher  for  whom  I 
have  great  respect  and  whom  I believe  to 
be  a good  man.  I suppose  I will  be  criti- 
cised by  some  for  repeating  these  views 
in  this  book.  To  such  I desire  to  say  that 
I am  not  prompted  by  opposition  to  re- 
ligion and  churches,  but  because  I am 
opposed  to  priestcraft  in  each  and  every 
religious  denomination,  Catholic  and  Prot- 
estant, and  believe  that  more  churches 
than  necessary  lead  to  just  that  very 
thing. 

When  the  holy  angels  meet  us, 

As  we  go  to  join  their  band, 

Shall  we  know  the  friends  that  greet  us, 
In  the  glorious  spirit-land? 

Shall  we  see  the  same  eyes  shining 
On  us,  as  in  days  of  yore? 

Shall  we  feel  their  dear  arms  twining 
Fondly  ’round  us  as  before? 

Shall  we  know  each  other  there  ? 

— Rev.  R.  Lowry. 

“He  is  risen!  Hear  it,  ye  heavens,  and 
ye  sons  of  earth!  He  is  risen,  and  has  be- 
come the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept!” 


428 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


HISTORY  OF  McKENDREE  CHAPEL 

Located  on  the  Northwest  Quarter  of  Sec- 
tion 2,  Town  2,  Range  10,  of  Elizabeth 
Township,  Miami  County,  Ohio. 

By  Frank  M.  Sterrett 

Within  three  counties  of  the  North  Car- 
olina line,  near  where  the  New  River  has 
its  source,  its  entire  line  bordering  on  the 
comparatively  new  State  of  West  Virginia, 
with  the  New  River  winding  in  a north- 
west direction  through  its  center,  is  Giles 
County,  which  belongs  to  the  fourth  phys- 
ical division  of  Virginia,  known  as  the 
Blue  Ridge  Country,  containing  a land- 
scape of  unrivaled  grandeur. 

To  travel  from  Giles  County,  Va.,  to 
McKendree  Chapel  where  we  are  now  as- 
sembled, in  the  days  about  which  I am  to 
refer,  on  the  lines  of  immigration,  required 
a distance  of  more  than  five  hundred  miles. 
Miami  County  had  been  carved  out  of  the 
new  State  of  Ohio,  the  first  added  to  the 
great  constellation  in  the  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory, created  by  the  great  ordinance  of 
1787. 

This  county  at  that  time  embraced  all 
the  territory  north  of  the  northern  boun- 
dary line  of  Montgomery  County  and  west 
of  the  western  line  of  Clarke  County ; 
since  which  time  all  the  counties  north 
of  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  pres- 
ent Miami  County  have  been  created. 

Elizabeth  Township  was  then,  as  now, 
a central  township  of  the  four  eastern 
townships  of  Miami  County,  bordering 
Clarke  and  Champaign  Counties.  The 
western  townships  of  Clarke  County,  as 
well  as  all  of  Miami  County,  were  drained 
into  the  Great  Miami  River,  which  formed 
a valley  of  unsurpossed  fertility  and 
drained  four  thousand  square  miles,  or 
one-tenth  the  entire  surface  of  the  State. 
Elizabeth  Township,  in  Miami  Conuty,  and 
Pike  Township  of  Clarke  County  are  up- 
land townships,  and  gradually  lift  to  the 
ridge  which  divides  the  drainage  of  the 
Mad  and  Miami  Rivers. 


Elizabeth  Township  in  Miami  County, 
and  Pike  Township  in  Clarke  County,  ad- 
joining each  other,  are  drained  by  Indian 
Creek  and  Honey  Creek,  which  head  with- 
in a short  distance  of  each  other,  the  first 
in  Brown  Township  of  Miami  County,  and 
the  latter  in  Jackson  Township  of  Cham- 
paign County.  Both  of  them  are  formed 
by  a series  of  springs  whose  purling 
branches  murmuring  through  peppermint 
beds  and  sweet-smelling  grasses,  finally 
converge  to  the  head  waters  of  these 
streams,  which  in  turn  meander  on  their 
way  to  the  Great  Miami  and  are  fed  along 
their  entire  distance  by  springs  from  their 
little  valleys  and  the  hillsides  along  their 
course. 

The  man  or  woman  here  present  who 
has  not  practiced,  with  rod  and  line,  the 
art  of  Sir  Izaak  Walton  in  the  old-time 
“deep  hole”  to  be  found  along  their  course, 
and  fried  his  or  her  catch  in  the  old  iron 
skillet,  has  missed  a memory  fraught  with 
a thousand  ecstacies,  and  he  or  she  who 
has  not  fallen  from  the  roots  of  an  up- 
turned sycamore  or  from  the  foot  log  into 
this  same  “deep  hole”  and  gone  home  to 
mother  for  dry  clothes,  has  missed  an  ex- 
perience around  which  will  cling  and 
dwell  to  the  latest  day  of  life,  the  sweetest 
and  saddest  things  of  halcyon  youth. 

These  creeks  were  extensively  bordered 
and  most  of  the  land  of  these  two  town- 
ships was  covered  with  a heavy  timber. 
If  the  giant  poplar  and  walnut  alone  had 
been  left  standing  until  today,  they  would 
have  a greater  cash  money  value  than  all 
the  land  upon  which  they  stood.  The  su- 
gar maple,  beech,  ash,  oak,  hickory,  mul- 
berry, wild  cherry  and  many  other  vari- 
etes  were  in  vast  abundance.  Through 
these  primeval  forests  in  a time  prior  to 
the  one  about  which  I write,  the  lordly 
elk  stalked  and  tossed  his  proud  head, 
adorned  by  its  giant  antlers;  and  at  the 
time  about  which  I write  the  antlered 
deer  ran  his  swift  course  in  advance  of 
the  baying  hounds.  The  black  bear,  the 
wildcat,  the  fox,  the  lynx,  the  raccoon,  the 


RELIGION 


429 


oppossum  were  here  in  the  greatest  abun- 
dance ; the  wild  turkey,  which  should  have 
been  called  the  National  Bird  of  Freedom, 
on  account  of  his  great  beauty  and  useful- 
ness, were  prolific.  It  was  not  only  a land 
with  an  astonishing  variety  of  game  and 
magnificent  forests,  but  it  was  a land  of 
sunny  skies  and  sparkling  springs,  of  beau- 
tiful scenery,  verdant  dales  and  flowery 
fields,  of  fruitful  soil  and  innumerable 
wild  fruits  and  nuts,  of  healthful  and  de- 
lightful climate  and  luxuriant  flora  and 
fauna. 

To  this  land  dedicated  to  Freedom  by 
the  great  ordinance  of  1787,  came  the  ad- 
venturous spirits  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and 
principally  from  Giles  County.  The  first 
land  entered  here  was  in  1805-6.  The  Sun- 
derlin  and  Williams  families  each  took  a 
half  of  Section  1,  Town  2,  Range  10,  be- 
ing the  southeast  section  of  Elizabeth 
Township,  and  the  section  immediately 
south  of  Section  2,  Town  2,  Range  10,  on 
which  this  church  is  located. 

The  second  entry  of  land  in  this  neigh- 
borhood was  made  by  Wm.  Mitchell,  known 
for  so  many  years  in  this  community  as 
“Uncle  Billy”  Mitchell.  This  entry  was 
made  on  December  24,  1811,  being  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  3,  Town  2, 
Range  10.  This  quarter  corners  on  the 
quarter  on  which  this  church  house  stands. 
The  house  in  which  “Uncle  Billy”  died  in 
1879  stands  diagonally  across  the  road 
from  this  church.  It  was  successively  oc- 
cupied by  Wm.  S.  Mitchell,  the  son  of 
“Uncle  Billy,”  and  Milton  G.  Mitchell,  the 
son  of  Wm.  S.,  and  now  by  the  widow  of 
Milton  G.,  and  her  children ; the  farm  hav- 
ing been  owned  by  the  family  for  the  past 
97  years.  This  was  the  loved  home  of  the 
itinerant.  Being  the  nearest  Methodist 
home  to  this  church,  it  fell  to  the  lot  of 
this  family  to  dispense  a larger  degree  of 
hospitality  than  any  other  connected  with 
the  McKendree  Society. 

Aunt  Polly,  who  was  a Robinson,  and 
the  wife  of  W.  S.  Mitchell,  was  a mother 
cook.  May  she  be  looking  down  on  us  now 


from  the  plains  of  light  and  with  her  well 
remembered  smile  accept  my  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  unctuous  satisfaction  I experi- 
enced while  polishing  so  many  chicken- 
bones  at  her  delightful  table.  I cannot  re- 
frain just  here  from  dropping  a kindly 
word  in  memory  of  her  son,  my  schoolmate 
friend,  Milton  G.  Mitchell. 

The  first  land  entered  in  Pike  Township, 
Clarke  County,  Ohio,  by  any  one  identified 
with  the  McKendree  Society  was  by  Thos. 
Stafford  on  November  11,  1811,  less  than 
a month  after  the  entry  made  by  “Uncle 
Billy”  Mitchell.  It  was  the  northwestern 
quarter  of  Section  31,  Town  2,  Range  10, 
Pike  Township.  This  farm  descended  to 
James  C.  Stafford,  one  of  the  carpenters 
who  built  this  church.  From  James  C. 
Stafford  the  farm  descended  to  his  son, 
Rowland  J.  Stafford,  and  is  now  owned 
by  Rowland’s  son,  Horace  G.  Stafford,  who 
has  been  one  of  the  most  active  spirits  in 
organizing  this  McKendree  home-coming. 
This  farm  has  remained  in  the  Stafford 
family  for  97  years. 

Thos.  Stafford,  George  and  wife,  Cath- 
erine Stafford,  James  C.  Stafford,  William 
Mitchell  (known  as  “Uncle  Billy”),  Eliz- 
abeth and  Joseph  H.  Stafford,  and  Daniel 
Hogue,  came  to  this  neighborhood  in  1811. 
They  crossed  the  Ohio  River  at  Gallipolis 
on  the  31st  day  of  October,  1811,  it  being 
the  tenth  birthday  of  James  C.  Stafforfd. 
The  one  named  Elizabeth  Stafford  was 
commonly  called  “Aunt  Betsy,”  and  was 
blind  for  many  years;  she  died  May  17, 
1882,  in  her  83d  year.  It  is  said  she  rode 
a horse  the  entire  way  from  Virginia,  and 
assisted  in  driving  cows  that  were  brought 
to  Ohio  by  this  company  of  early  settlers. 

Samuel  Black,  who  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  evidently  came  to  this  neigh- 
borhood near  the  time  of  the  1811  immi- 
grants, from  the  fact  that  he  died  in  1814 
and  is  buried  in  Black’s  Cemetery,  located 
on  the  farm  of  J.  Irvin  Stafford.  He  was 
a member  of  the  numerous  Black  family, 
who  were  members  of  the  McKendree  So- 


430 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


ciety,  among  whom  is  the  Rev.  John  G. 
BlRck 

“Uncle  Billy”  Mitchell  returned  to  Vir- 
ginia in  1811  and  brought  back  with  him 
in  1812  his  father  and  family. 

The  course  followed  by  these  Virginia 
immigrants  on  their  way  from  Giles  Coun- 
ty to  this  locality  is  not  positively  known, 
but  from  the  fact  that  history  informs  us 
that  the  best  road  of  those  days  was  along 
the  course  of  th«  New  River  until  the  lat- 
ter was  joined  by  the  Gauley,  when  the 
New  River  became  the  Kanawha,  these 
settlers  no  doubt  came  that  way.  The  im- 
migrants continued  down  the  Kanawha, 
and  so  far  as  we  have  record,  invariably 
entered  Ohio  at  Gallipolis,  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha.  This  route 
would  have  taken  them  through  Giles 
County,  in  old  Virginia,  and  Sumner,  Ral- 
eigh, Fayette,  Kanawha,  Putnam  and  Ma- 
son County  in  West  Virginia. 

The  best  road  of  that  day  from  Galli- 
polis to  this  locality  was  through  Gallia, 
Jackson,  Ross,  Fayette,  Green,  Clarke  and 
Miami,  and  our  people  no  doubt  traveled 
it,  and  therefore  crossed  the  Muskingum, 
Scioto,  Mad  and  other  smaller  streams  on 
their  journey  here. 

There  was  a wonderful  tide  of  immigra- 
tion, especially  from  Kentucky,  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  into  the  Mad  and  Miami 
River  counties  in  1812.  While  the  nucleus 
of  the  McKendree  Society  was  being  then 
formed,  like  communities  were  being  es- 
tablished in  all  parts  of  Clarke  and  Miami 
Counties.  The  woodman’s  axe  rang 
throughout  the  land;  the  sturdy  pioneer, 
urged  on  to  a higher  endeavor  by  the  no- 
blest of  all  human  sentiments,  a home  for 
his  family  was  hewing  down  the  giants  of 
the  forest,  erecting  his  log  cabin  and  pre- 
paring and  planting  his  fields. 

Busy  as  they  were  looking  after  their 
material  interests,  they  at  once  took  up 
the  things  that  were  spiritual.  These 
sturdy  pioneers  with  a lofty  courage  built 
homes  for  their  temporal  welfare,  and  con- 
temporaneous therewith  a home  beyond 


the  skies,  enduring  and  eternal. 

This  latter  feature  of  their  work  cannot 
be  effectively  introduced  without  first  set- 
ting forth  briefly  the  religious  conditions 
in  this  new  country  at  that  time.  It  seems 
to  me  that  this  intention  can  be  best  con- 
served by  quoting  the  following  from  the 
Rev.  J.  B.  Finley’s  Pioneer  Life : 

“In  the  spring  of  1800  one  of  the  most 
astonishing  and  powerful  revival  that  has 
been  known  in  the  western  country  oc- 
curred. The  commencement  of  this  work 
is  traceable  to  the  joint  labors  of  two  bro- 
thers named  McGee,  in  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  one  of  whom  was  a Pres- 
byterian preacher  and  the  other  a Metho- 
dist preacher.  They  commenced  laboring 
together  every  Sabbath,  preaching,  pray- 
ing and  exhorting  alternately.  This  union 
was  regarded  as  quite  singular,  and  ex- 
cited the  curiosity  of  vast  multitudes  who 
came  to  the  place  of  the  meeting  to  hear 
two  men  preach  who  held  views  in  the- 
ology supposed  to  be  entirely  antagonistic. 
Nothing  was  discovered  in  their  preaching 
of  a doctrinal  character,  except  the  doc- 
trine of  man’s  total  depravity  and  ruin 
by  sin,  and  his  recovery  therefrom  by  re- 
pentance and  faith  in  Christ.  All  were 
exhorted  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come  and  be 
saved  from  their  sins.  The  word  which 
they  preached  was  attended  with  the  power 
of  God  to  the  hearts  of  listening  thousands 
and  the  multitude  which  flocked  from  all 
parts  of  the  country  to  hear  them  became 
so  vast  that  no  church  could  hold  them, 
and  they  were  obliged  to  resort  to  fields 
and  woods.  Every  vehicle  was  put  in 
requisition,  carriages,  wagons,  carts  and 
sleds.  Many  came  on  horseback  and  larger 
crowds  still  came  on  foot. 

“As  the  excitement  increased  and  the 
work  of  conviction  and  conversion  contin- 
ued, several  brought  tents,  and  they  were 
pitched  on  the  ground  and  remained  day 
and  night  for  many  days.  This  was  the 
origin  of  camp-meetings.” 

In  1804  the  Cane  Ridge  Camp  Meeting 
took  place.  In  the  interim  between  the 


JOHN  CLINTON  MITCHELL 


The  subject  of  the  above  portrait  was  of  pure  American  parentage,  running  back  several  generations, 
whose  people  came  from  Virginia  in  1811  and  settled  in  the  McKindrie  neighborhood,  of  which  I have 
,given  a full  sketch,  at  length  in  another  part. 

He  was  born  in  1828,  in  Bethel  township,  and  lived  with  George  MitcheT,  his  father,  and  Katherine 
Gerhart,  his  mother,  until  ycung  manhood,  when  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Stafford  in  1846,  from 
which  union  ten  children  were  born. 

In  May,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  as  Captain  cf  Co.  B.  147  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  mutered 
out  on  August  28  of  the  same  year.  He  died  in  1883  and  was  buried  in  t’  e New  Carlisle  cemetery.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  was  a Knight  Templar  Mason,  a farmer  and  a leading  citizen. 

His  eighth  child,  Mary  M..  married  George  Warren  Barter,  who  were  the  father  ard  mother  of 
Harold  Barton,  who  has  furnished  the  several  hundred  photographs  for  this  work. 

Harold  was  born  near  New  Carlisle  in  1888  and  educated  in  the  Troy  schools,  to  which  place  the 
family  had  moved  and  where  his  father  had  conducted  the  photograph  business,  until  turned  over  to  his 
son,  whose  studio  does  a thriving  business,  making  many  thousand  pictures  for  local  commercial  firms. 

On  October  10,  1917,  Harold  married  Edna  Douglas,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio  the  popular  granddaughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Douglas,  of  south  Market  street.  They  worship  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
Harold  is  identified  with  the  Franklin  Lodge  of  Masons. 


WILLIAM  I.  THOMAS 

Was  born  in  Philadelphia  Pa.,  on  July  4,  1796,  of  Welsh  origin,  his  ancestors  hailing  from  Swansie,  the 
birthplace  of  the  great  Welsh  nightingale,  Adaline  Nillson.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lancaster,  Ohio, 
and  worked  with  his  father  in  the  pottery  business  until  the  death  of  his  elder  brother,  which  furnished  the 
opportunity  for  his  education.  He  attended  school  at  Columbus,  and  the  Ohio  university  at  Athens  and  read 
law  with  Thomas  Ewing  and  began  practice  in  Troy  at  the  Overfield  court  house  in  1819.  In  1824  the  ferry 
boat,  at  the  foot  of  Mulberry  street,  near  the  court  house,  landed  three  handsome  Virginia  maidens  named 
Neale,  Harriet,  Juliet  and  Lucinda,  the  latter  in  her  fourteenth  year.  Milton  McCampfc'ell,  the  tanner,  said, 
“Thomas,  how  do  you  like  the  looks  of  those  young  ladies?”  to  which  he  replied  “I  intend  to  marry  one  of 
them  " and  when  Lucinda  became  18  in  1828,  he  married  her  and  from  this  union  11  children,  10  boys  and 
one  girl  were  born.  Seven  of  whom  lived  to  manhood.  His  first  law  office  was  on  the  lot  owned  by  him,  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  First  Baptist  church.  He  served  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Miami  county  and 
served  in  the  State  Senate  from  1836-40,  inclusive  and  widely  known  as  a leader  of  public  thought.  At  one 
time  while  in  the  Senate,  he  spoke  16  hours  against  time  and  thereby  defeated  an  obnoxious  measure.  He 
was  elected  president  of  the  first  Agricultural  Society  in  1846  and  re-elected  in  1847.  It  was  through  his 
energy  that  the  first  public  school  was  organized  in  Troy  before  the  first  public  school  law  was  passed, 
mentioned  in  our  chapter  XIX  on  the  Organization  and  Progress  of  Miami  County.  He  was  an  old  line 
Whig  until  that  party  disbanded,  after  which  he  acted  with  the  Democratic  party.  As  a friend,  he  was 
staunch  and  true  as  well  as  being  an  aggressive  enemy.  He  was  a deep  reader  of  human  nature  and  apt  in 
theological  discussion  and  a powerful  and  convincing  lawyer.  Four  of  his  sons,  Walter,  Stanley,  William 
and  Gilmer  Telford  imbibed  the  law  from  their  father  and  became  successful  barristers,  Gilmer  Telford  the 
only  one  of  this  family  of  good  lawyers  now  alive  once  said,  “Father,  in  what  does  the  art  of  cross  exam- 
ination consist?”  to  which  query  he  quickly  replied,  “It  consists  in  knowing;  when  to  quit.”  In  1854,  he 
sold  the  ground  on  which  the  sheriff’s  residence,  jail  and  Probate  rooms  now  stand  to  the  county  com- 
missioners for  $2,600.  He  owned  a farm  of  300  acres,  adjoining  Troy  on  the  west  which  he  conducted  with 
the  same  successful  energy  that  characterized  all  of  his  enterprises. 

The  opposing  lawyer  in  a case  at  court  was  on  the  witness  stand,  when  Mr.  Thomas  asked  him,  “You 
are  witness  brother-in-law  and  lawyer  of  your  client  in  this  case,  are  you  not?”  to  which  his  opponent 
with  some  heat  replied,  “1  am  at  least  no  akin  to  you”  when  Thomas,  in  a deep  voice,  responded  “Thank 
God”  amid  great  laughter.  The  A;  >glo-Saxon  of  Mr.  Thomas,  it  is  said,  was  at  times  marked  with  pre- 
cision. incision  and  decision  of  such  character  that  no  mistake  could  be  entertained  about  his  meaning. 

Col.  Gilmer  Telford,  of  Troy,  Commander  of  Ft.  Hays  in  Kansas  in  1869,  wrote  Thomas  to  come  out  and 
shoot  buffalo,  then  plentiful,  which  he  accepted  and  killed  several  of  the  great  American  bison  and  returning 
in  fine  spirits,  stopped  with  A.  G.  Eidemiller,  formerly  of  Troy,  at  Lawrence  Kansas  and  suddenly  died 
there,  his  body  being  brought  back  and  buried  in  Rose  Hill. 

Gilmer  Telford  Thomas  was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio,  on  January  8,  1851,  the  son  of  W.  I.  Thomas  and 
Lucinda  Neale  with  whom  he  lived  until  manhood  and  who  was  educated  in  the  Troy  schools.  On  December 
31,  1874,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Emma  Ziegenfelder,  from  which  one  son,  William,  was  born,  now  in 
business  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Mr.  Thomas  absorbed  law  from  infancy  under  his  father  and  entered  the  practice  in  Troy  in  1876  and  has 
held  a prominent  position  at  the  Miami  county  tar  from  the  beginning.  He  has  been  and  now  is  the 
president  of  the  Miami  County  Bar  association.  He  was  mayor  of  Troy  in  1880-4  and  cifv  solicitor  in  1910-16 
in  which  position  he  has  loyally  upheld  the  interests  of  his  native  city.  By  appointm°nt  of  Governor  Cox, 
he  is  one  of  the  three  legal  advisors  of  the  Conscription  board  at  the  present  time  1918. 


THE  COUNTRY  FARM  OF  HARRY  EDWIN  SCOTT 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  the  old  Scott  homestead,  section  16,  Elisabeth  township,  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  January  20  1874.  His  father,  Thomas  Scott,  was  a prominent  agriculturalist,  who  died  some 
years  ago. 

Harry  Edwin  was  educated  in  the  Troy  high  school,  the  National  university  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  the 
Miami  Commercial  college,  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 

He  was  four  years  a clerk  in  the  house  of  representatives  at  Columbus,  Ohio  ; ten  years  actively  connected 
with  the  Troy  National  Bank,  from  which  he  resigned  as  assistant  cashier  to  accept  the  position  of  treasurer 
of  Miami  county,  to  which  he  had  been  elected,  without  opposition  in  1912,  and  re-elected  in  1914,  and  from 
wh:ch  he  retired  in  September,  1917,  with  a splendid  record  for  efficiency. 

He  was  married  to  Alberta  Stubbs,  of  Lebanon,  Warren  county,  Ohio  on  March  3,  1897.  now  one  of  the 
accomplished  young  matrons  of  Troy,  whose  genial  qualities  has  made  her  a great  favorite  in  the  best  social 
circles  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Scott  represents  the  government,  as  chairman  of  the  Miami  County  "Liberty  Loan”  committee,  whose 
duty  consists  in  procuring  subscriptions  to  the  war  fund  with  which  to  conduct  our  war  against  Germany. 
Under  his  able  management  the  quota  of  Miami  county  during  the  November.  1917,  drive  reached  the  sum 
of  $1,500,000.  over  8500,000  above  the  maximum  set  by  the  treasury  department. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  Templar  and  Shrine  in  Masonry,  the  Junior  Order  and  Odd  Fellows  ; a 
director  in  the  Knoop  Children’s  home,  ike  160  acres  of  land  attached  thereto,  having  been  donated  bv  the 
“bachelor  Knoops,”  his  uncles ; vice  president  of  the  lake  loop  of  the  Dixie  highway,  starting  at  Miami, 
Florida,  thence  through  Cincinnati  through  Troy  and  Piqua.  in  Miami  county  to  Detroit,  Michigan. 

The  heautilul  farm  of  300  acres,  owned  by  himself  and  sister,  two  mles  east  of  Troy  on  the  Springfield 
pike  is  one  of  the  most  fertile  in  the  great  Miami  Valley,  sometimes  yielding  100  bushels  of  Indian  corn 
to  the  acre. 

He  has  been  prominently  mentioned  as  a candidate  for  treasurer  of  the  State  of  Ohio  and  could  no  doubt 
fc>e  nominated  during  th"  tv-ps  ent  year  of  1918,  if  his  consent  could  be  obtained.  His  high  qualification  for 
such  a trust  are  unquestioned. 


THE  HOME  OF  WILLIAM  HARRY  GILBERT,  42»  SOUTH  MARKET  STREET, 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  American  stock,  born  two  miles  north  of  Gettysburg-,  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
on  December  28,  1863.  He  was  educated  as  he  himself  puts  it  in  the  "Little  Red  School  House”  and 
finished  at  the  National  Normal  university  at  Ada,  Ohio.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  on  October  4,  1888,  and  has  practiced  his  profession  from  that  time  to  the 
present.  He  married  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Common  Please  Judge  Meeker,  of  Darke  county,  on 
November  19,  1890,  from  which  union  one  daughter,  Virginia,  was  born  on  July  16,  1907.  Soon  after  his 
marriage  he  came  to  Troy  and  has  been  an  honored  and  brilliant  member  of  the  Miami  County  Bar  ever 
since.  He  is  a Blue  Lodge  Mason  and  with  Mrs.  Gilbert  worships  at  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has 
never  sought  or  filled  public  off.ee.  No  man  stands  higher  in  his  profession  and  no  family  in  Troy  stands 
higher  in  its  social  world. 


RELIGION 


435 


McGee  meeting  and  this  there  were  fre- 
quent successful  camp  meetings.  Mr.  Fin- 
ley gives  results  of  this  meeting  in  these 
terms  : 

“Language  is  too  poor  to  give  anything 
like  an  accurate  idea  of  the  sublimity  and 
grandeur  of  the  scene.  Twenty  thousand 
persons  tossed  to  and  fro  like  the  tumult- 
ous waves  of  the  sea  in  a storm,  or  swept 
like  the  trees  in  the  forest  under  the  blast 
of  the  wild  tornado,  was  a sight  which  my 
eye  witnessed,  but  which  neither  my  pen 
nor  tongue  can  describe.  Good  judges 
were  ready  to  admit  that  there  were  ex- 
travagances to  be  found  in  these  meetings 
which  should  be  condemned,  but  all  was 
not  wild  fanaticism.  The  main  trend  of 
the  work  was  that  of  God’s  Spirit  on  the 
hearts  of  the  people.  Thousands  were  gen- 
uinely converted  to  God.” 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
had  its  origin  at  this  time  and  place.  It 
was  at  these  altars  that  young  preachers, 
who  in  after  years  came  to  Ohio  to  labor, 
got  their  hearts  aflame.  It  took  bold,  cour- 
ageous and  untiring  Christian  zeal  to 
break  down  the  strongholds  of  sin  in  these 
western  wilds.  For  rivers  were  to  be 
swum,  hunger,  thirst  and  weariness  to  be 
endured,  and  penury  to  be  faced.  From 
this  source  came  the  consuming  fire  which 
was  in  the  bones  of  the  men  who  first 
preached  in  the  Northwest  Territory. 

The  famous  evangelist,  Lorenzo  Dow, 
preached  in  the  houses  and  in  the  woods 
throughout  a great  part  of  Virginia,  and 
held  meetings  in  Giles  County,  where  a 
great  many  of  the  Mitchells,  Staffords, 
Blacks  and  others  who  formed  McKendree, 
were  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist 
Church. 

The  book,  hereafter  to  be  printed,  con- 
taining this  historical  sketch  and  other  ad- 
dresses to  be  delivered  this  afternoon  and 
tonight  will  contain  a cut,  made  from  a 
photograph  taken  by  our  good  sister,  Min- 
erva Ream,  of  the  old  log  cabin  built  by 
“Uncle  Billy”  Mitchel  lin  1811. 

Here  in  this  log  cabin,  in  this  wilderness 


of  forest  trees,  was  formed  a Methodist 
Society  which  wrought  out  a high  Chris- 
tian civilization  of  far-reaching  and  incal- 
culable value  to  the  state  in  this  life,  and 
in  the  state  of  the  life  everlasting.  From 
this  beginning  and  directly  descending 
therefrom  are  four  doctors  of  divinity, 
teachers  of  high  standing,  legislators  of 
great  merit,  physicians  and  prominent 
business  men  of  much  mark  in  the  world ; 
soldiers  of  the  war  of  1812  and  61-65  who 
fought  bravely  for  the  flag,  some  of  whom 
died  heroically  on  the  firing  line  and  in 
the  forefront  of  battle ; one  of  them,  Gen- 
eral Fred  Funston,  in  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can  war,  by  his  daring  deeds  in  the  Philip- 
pines but  ten  years  ago,  wrote  his  name 
high  up  on  the  scroll  of  fame.  His  hero- 
ism in  campaign  and  battle  has  resounded 
throughout  the  world  and  his  deeds  have 
been  published  in  all  lands  and  in  all 
tongues.  This  McKendree  boy  is  at  pres- 
ent a brigradier-general  in  the  regular 
army  of  the  United  States  and  commands 
a department. 

The  history  of  toil  and  privation  en- 
dured by  these  pioneers,  the  Indian  wars 
and  depredations  which  in  the  beginning 
were  a constant  menace  to  their  lives, 
deeds  of  daring,  in  the  chase  and  in  de- 
fense of  their  homes,  incident  to  the 
growth  of  this  community,  coupled  with 
religious  training  and  the  rapid  growth 
of  educational  facilities,  the  advantages  of 
which  these  provident  pioneers  freely  gave 
to  their  children,  was  well  calculated,  as 
it  did,  to  produce  men  of  great  value  to 
the  community,  State  and  Nation. 

James  S.  Stafford,  who  fought  in  the 
war  of  1812,  was  the  great-grandfather  of 
Brigadier-General  Fred  Funston  of  Phil- 
ippine fame.  Fred’s  people  were  members 
of  the  McKendree  Society. 

For  twenty  years,  from  1812  to  1832, 
these  people  worshipped  in  the  log  cabin 
of  Samuel  Mitchell,  though  the  title  to  the 
land  did  not  pass  to  him  until  1828.  The 
society  had  so  grown  in  numbers  and  re- 
sources that  in  1832  a frame  church  of 


436 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


more  commodious  dimensions  was  built  on 
practically  the  same  site  on  which  this 
brick  church  stands.  In  1853,  after  stand- 
ing 21  years  this  frame  church  was  moved 
bodily  to  New  Carlisle,  Ohio,  and  is  now 
being  occupied  as  a residence  with  the 
identical  outward  appearance  it  assumed 
on  this  spot. 

An  excellent  cut  of  this  structure  will 
appear  in  connection  with  the  printed  pro- 
ceedings held  here  today.  This  frame 
church  was  supplanted  in  1853  by  the 
church  house  in  which  we  today  assemble. 
Samuel  Mitchell,  the  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier and  father  of  “Uncle  Billy”  acquired 
this  quarter  on  April  29,  1828.  From 
1832  to  1838  the  frame  church  stood  on 
this  land  owned  by  Samuel  Mitchell.  Qn 
December  6,  1838,  Samuel  Mitchell  and 
wife  deeded  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  a part  of  the  north  part  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  Section  2,  Town  2, 
Range  10.  The  deed  recorded  in  Volume 
17,  pag  82,  Miami  County  Records,  calls 
for  one  acre  of  land.  This  one  acre  in- 
cludes the  cemetery  ground  and  the 
ground  on  which  the  church  stands. 

There  is  no  available  record  of  when  the 
first  camp-meeting  was  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  McKendree  Society.  It  is 
quite  certain  that  one  was  held  in  1814  in 
the  woods  on  which  the  water  springs 
from  the  ground  near  where  this  church 
stands,  at  the  crossroads,  and  since  it  is 
known  that  Lorenzo  Dow  visited  and 
preached  to  his  Virginia  converts  at  this 
place,  it  is  probable  that  he  conducted  this 
camp-meeting.  It  is  certain  that  there  was 
a great  camp-meeting  held  on  these 
grounds  referred  to  in  1818,  for  it  is  of 
record  that  James  C.  Stafford  and  others 
were  powerfully  converted  at  that  time,  at 
this  meeting.  He  was  then  seventeen  years 
(of  age,  just  seven  years  after  he  had 
crossed  the  Ohio  River  with  his  parents 
and  others  at  Gallipolis,  Ohio.  James  B. 
Finley  conducted  this  camp-meeting  and 
several  others  in  a woods  a little  distance 
north  of  the  “Uncle  Billy”  Mitchell  home. 


My  mother  has  often  told  me  of  hearing 
Finley,  when  she  was  a girl,  preach  in  this 
God’s  temple  to  multitudes  of  people.  She 
carried  the  recollection  of  this  wonderful 
man  and  the  stirring  scenes  she  there  wit- 
nessed on  the  hilltop  of  her  memory,  and 
recited  stories  of  the  incidents  connected 
therewith,  with  enraptured  religious  fer- 
vor. These  camp-meetings  were  held  in 
this  timber  land  at  various  intervals  of 
time  for  many  years.  The  greatest  revival 
of  religion  ever  held  by  this  society  was 
in  1849,  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Newson 
and  the  blind  preacher  Mosgrove,  in  the 
old  frame  church  erected  in  1832.  A great 
many  lasting  benefits  were  acquired  by 
this  revival.  A great  many  strong  and 
able  men  and  women  joined  the  church 
and  remained  with  it,  an  ever-living  good 
to  the  community  to  the  end. 

Newson  and  Mosgrove  were  Nineteenth 
Century  preachers  and  orators.  They 
served  the  same  God  who  taught  “Peace  on 
earth  and  good-will  to  men.”  They  were 
able,  full  of  the  Christ  spirit,  and  with 
plenty  of  red  corpuscles  in  their  blood. 
They  were  of  the  parsons  who  never  mis- 
took pessimism  for  wisdom,  or  dyspepsia 
for  an  outward  and  visible  sign  of  an  in- 
ward and  spiritual  grace.  They  were  men 
among  men,  and  yet  did  not  fear  to  own 
the  cause  of  their  Master  or  blush  to  speak 
His  name.  Believing  as  I do  in  the  trans- 
mission of  spiritual  influence  from  the  de- 
parted of  earth  who  are  in  heaven,  to  those 
who  remain  behind,  I can  see  the  beaming 
approval  of  Mosgrove’s  face  behind  his 
green  spectacles,  if  they  wear  spectacles 
over  there,  on  this  scene  today. 

Thirteen  years  prior  to  the  founding  of 
McKendree,  or  in  1798,  Daniel  Boone  and 
James  Morris  crossed  the  Ohio  River  and 
started  for  Piqua,  where  a large  village  of 
Shawnees  was  located. 

Boone  was  taken  sick  at  Middleton,  and 
Morris  came  on  up  the  valley  to  a point 
where  Honey  Creek  empties  into  the  Mi- 
ami, and  where  he  afterward  founded  the 
village  of  Livingston,  long  since  aban- 


RELIGION 


437 


doned.  One  day,  northeast  of  this  point, 
he  was  surprised  to  discover  a large  band 
of  Indians  camped  on  a stream,  and  he 
was  compelled  to  hide  from  them  some 
days  in  the  hazel  bush.  He  named  this 
stream  “Indian  Creek.”  A little  later,  fur- 
ther east,  he  cut  a bee-tree,  and  contrary 
to  his  desire,  it  fell  across  another  stream, 
and  this  in  consequence  he  called  Honey 
Creek. 

These  pioneers  were  not  simply  tillers 
of  the  soil,  they  were  men  of  enterprise  to 
a degree  that  sems  wondrful  to  the  present 
gneration.  There  was  in  Pike  Township 
on  Honey  Creek  the  Deaton  sawmill  on 
Section  35,  the  Sterrett  sawmill,  gristmill 
and  distillery  on  Section  34,  the  Sprinkle 
sawmill  on  Section  33,  the  Pence  sawmill 
on  Section  31,  or  seven  manufacturing 
concerns  within  a distance  of  four  miles. 

On  Indian  Creek,  which  runs  a general 
parallel  course  of  less  than  three  miles  dis- 
tant, on  an  average,  there  was  the  Vandi- 
veer  grist  and  sawmill,  now  known  as  the 
Schindler  mill,  on  Section  3 of  Elizabeth 
Township.  Then  the  Vorliis  distillery, 
gristmill  and  sawimll  of  Section  9.  This 
distillery  was  the  scene  of  the  book  en- 
titled “The  Serpent  of  Sugar  Creek,”  by 
John  Bunyon  Robinson,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  a 
McKendree  boy.  Then  came  the  Baugh 
distillery,  gristmill  and  sawmill  on  Section 

7.  W.  H.  Stafford  married  a daughter  of 
Mrs.  Baugh.  From  this  wedlock  was  born 
C.  L.  Stafford,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  who  was  born 
at  these  mills  and  afterward  became  the 
president  of  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity. Then  came  the  Staley  distillery  on 
Section  7.  Then  a woolen  mill  on  Section 

8.  Then  a powder  mill  on  Section  7 — a 
dozen  manufacturing  industries  on  Indian 
Creek  within  a distance  of  four  miles.  A 
patronage  sufficient  to  make  all  these  man- 
ufacturing concerns  on  Honey  and  Indian 
Creek,  in  such  close  proximity,  profitable, 
as  they  were,  must  have  extended  many 
miles  in  each  direction.  Many  of  these 
sites  have  been  given  over  to  the  husband- 


amn,  and  fields  of  corn  and  wheat  now 
ripen  where  these  mills  once  stood. 

The  Methodist  Conference  of  Ohio  was 
organized  in  1812.  It  had  before  been  a 
part  of  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  con- 
ference. There  were  23,000  Methodists 
in  Ohio  at  that  date  and  the  total  number 
in  the  United  tSates  was  then  215,000. 
There  are  now  300,000  Methodists  in  Ohio 
and  3,000,000  in  the  United  States.  The 
organization  of  the  McKendree  Society 
was  contemporaneous  with  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Ohio  Conference.  The  first  con- 
ference in  Ohio  was  held  at  Chillicothe. 
The  Mad  River  Circuit  was  established  in 
1807  as  a part  of  the  Kentucky  Conference 
and  McKendree  was  attached  to  the  Mad 
River  Circuit  in  1812.  In  1816  McKendree 
was  attached  to  the  Piqua  Circuit,  in  1833 
to  the  Troy  Circuit,  in  1843  to  the  Tre- 
mont  Circuit  and  in  1851  to  the  Addison 
Circuit,  of  which  circuit  it  has  been  a part 
since  that  time.  The  circuit  then  con- 
sisted of  the  following  societies : Addison, 
McKendree,  Wesley,  Beech  Grove,  Grafton, 
Newson,  Asbury  and  Sims.  The  following 
Societies  now  are  members  of  this  circuit : 
Addison,  McKendree,  Beech  Grove  and 
Wesley  Chapel. 

It  cost  about  $4000  to  build  this  church, 
and  it  was  the  most  pretentious  church 
edifice  on  the  circuit.  McKendree  paid 
more  on  the  average  for  the  support  of  the 
circuit  than  either  of  the  other  societies. 
The  minutes  of  the  circuit  conference  to 
which  McKendree  had  been  attached  up  to 
1853,  when  this  church  was  built,  could 
not  be  obtained  and  are  probably  not  in 
existence.  The  minutes  since  that  time 
contained  only  pro-forma  proceedings,  and 
while  much  of  it,  showing  collections  and 
disbursements  and  long  familiar  names  in 
the  proceedings,  is  interesting,  no  part  of 
it  can,  on  account  of  time,  be  here  entered. 
The  carpenters  who  built  this  church  were 
Ploward  Mitchell,  John  Stafford  and  James 
C.  Stafford.  The  latter  was  the  greatest 
builder  of  this  community,  and  many  of 
the  best  built  farm  houses  and  barns  in 


438 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


this  neighborhood  were  of  his  construc- 
tion. Mrs.  Jennie  McNeal,  of  Troy,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  McNeal,  who  have  had  so 
much  to  do  with  this  home-coming,  is  the 
daughter  of  James  C.  Stafford,  and  is 
the  proud  possessor  of  the  chest  and  tools 
that  were  used  by  him  in  the  construction 
of  so  many  houses  and  barns  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. 

In  1901  the  fence  was  found  to  be  use- 
less in  keeping  stock  out  of  the  cemetery. 
Through  the  energy  of  Cyrus  Stafford  and 
W.  H.  Sterrett  a fund  was  created  by  sub- 
scription, amounting  to  $450,  with  which 
the  present  excellent  fence  was  erected, 
which  will  last  many  years  to  come.  There 
is  a permanent  fund  of  $500  subscribed 
by  worthy  departed  members  of  the  soci- 
ety which  draws  interest  at  the  rate  of 
6 per  cent  per  annum  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  cemetery.  The  interest  alone  is 
used  for  this  purpose.  Men  are  hired  each 
year  out  of  the  interest  fund  to  keep  the 
vegetation  down.  This  fund  should  be  in- 
creased. Do  not  let  it  be  truthfully  said 
that  the  descendants  of  these  sturdy  pi- 
oneers will  not  lovingly  perpetuate  that  for 
which  their  forbears  so  sturdily  wrought. 
In  these  graves  lie  the  dust  of  our  grand- 
sires  and  grandmothers,  of  our  fathers 
and  mothers,  and  those  whom  we  loved. 
They  are  sacred  to  us  by  the  ties  of  con- 
sanguinity, by  the  associations  of  church 
and  Sunday-school,  by  the  association  of 
neighborhood  and  community  interest.  The 
superstructure  of  the  state  and  the  nation 
is  built  upon  the  home  and  community. 
Without  pride  of  honor,  family  and  com- 
munity, the  state  and  the  nation  fails. 

In  the  cemetery  lies  the  dust  of  three 
soldiers  who  fought  for  liberty  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Samuel  Mitchell,  John 
Byms,  and  Henry  Harter  answered  the 
call  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  the 
immortal  Washington.  The  former  died 
in  1840,  81  years  of  age,  and  the  latter  in 
1846,  at  96  years  of  age.  Let  us  reverence 
and  protect  their  ashes  in  the  name  of 
Liberty. 


When,  during  the  War  of  1812,  the  In- 
dians of  this  State,  incited  by  British 
agents,  took  up  the  tomahawk  and  scalp- 
ing knife,  “Uncle  Billy”  Mitchell,  Jacob 
Ullery  and  Thomas  Stafford  went  forth  to 
do  battle  that  this  neighborhood  might  not 
be  overrun  by  the  savage  with  torch  and 
blood.  Their  ashes  are  here  also  in  our 
sacred  keeping. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion  came.  With 
an  uprising  as  from  the  breath  of  God, 
2,250,000  men  sprang  to  arms  in  defense 
of  the  Union.  It  was  an  army  of  boys. 
They  averaged  but  19  years  of  age,  and 
they  won  a victory  for  civilization  un- 
known to  the  annals  of  the  ages.  In  this 
cemetery  lies  the  ashes  of  Randolph  Moore 
of  the  44th  Ohio  Infantry  and  the  Eighth 
Ohio  Cavalry,  killed  in  battle  at  Lynch- 
burg, Va. ; here  lies  the  body  of  Robert 
Stone,  of  a Maryland  regiment;  here  lies 
the  body  of  Edward  Kemp  of  an  Ohio  regi- 
ment; here  lies  the  body  of  Marion  Kes- 
ter,  of  the  71st  Ohio  Infantry,  killed  in  the 
great  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn. ; here  lies 
the  body  of  Jacob  R.  Sterrett,  mortally 
wounded  late  in  the  evening,  after  two 
days’  escape  on  the  bloody  field  of  Chick- 
amauga.  Out  of  five  soldiers  in  the  war 
of  1861-65,  three  of  them  were  killed  on 
battlefields,  and  two  of  these  battles, 
Chickamauga  and  Nashville,  were  among 
the  most  bloody  ones  of  modern  times. 

Unfortunate  as  war  may  be,  the  history 
of  the  world  shows  that  when  a nation 
loses  its  fighting  blood,  it  becomes  effete 
and  then  ceases  to  exist.  The  dust  of  these 
soldiers  of  the  Republic  of  three  wars  are 
ours  to  reverence  and  protect.  Let  the 
memory  of  their  deeds  in  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty be  enshrined  in  the  patriotic  hearts  of 
all  future  generations. 

William  Thomas,  whose  wife  was  a 
Stafford,  moved  from  this  community  and 
founded  a McKendree  church  near  Wa- 
verly,  Indiana.  The  Blacks  and  Staffords 
founded  a McKendree  church  northeast  of 
Muncie,  Delaware  County,  Indiana.  The 
Pences  and  Staffords  founded  a McKen- 


RELIGION 


489 


dree  church  in  Clinton  County,  Indiana. 
The  Staffords  founded  a McKendree 
church  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Beech  Grove 
and  Newson  Chapel  are  swarms  from  the 
McKendree  hive. 

Like  the  ever-widening  wavelets  pro- 
duced by  the  pebble  thrown  in  the  sea, 
which  goes  on  forever,  so  will  the  influence 
begun  by  these  twenty-one  people  who 
formed  the  McKendree  Society  in  the  old 
log  cabin  continue  with  ever-widening  in- 
fluence to  throw  out  its  fibres  in  the  in- 


terest of  a higher  life  to  the  unborn  gen- 
erations of  the  future. 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  President,  I desire  to 
offer  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  this  1908  home-coming 
on  the  96th  anniversary  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  McKendree  Society,  endorse  the 
proposition  of  holding  a centennial  Home- 
coming of  this  Society  in  1912  at  McKen- 
dree Chapel,  and  to  that  end  request  this 
meeting  to  perfect  an  organization  in  fur- 
therance of  such  purpose. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

CITY  OF  TROY 


Jesse  Newport,  Daniel  Wilson  and  Jo- 
seph Lamb  were  appointed  by  the  Court 
of  Miami  County,  soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion in  January,  of  1807,  to  select  a loca- 
tion for  the  County  Seat,  and  reported  on 
June  25,  1807,  in  favor  of  lands  in  frac- 
tional section  21,  27  and  28  of  Concord 
Township,  and  appointed  Robert  Craw- 
ford, Director,  to  purchase  and  survey  the 
same.  He  purchased  forty  acres  of  Aaron 
Tullis  in  fractional  section  21  for  which 
he  paid  him  $120.50.  He  purchased  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  acres  and  seventy 
poles  of  William  Barbee  and  Alexander 
McCullough,  in  section  28  for  $421.50  and 
forty  acres  of  W.  H.  Gahagan  in  section  27 
for  $120.50.  He  employed  Andrew  Wal- 
lace to  survey  a portion  of  these  lands, 
who  finished  and  filed  his  first  plat  on  De- 
cember 2,  1807,  which  consisted  of  eighty- 
seven  lots  as  shown  on  the  copy  of  that 
plat  herewith.  All  those  lots  on  this  plat, 
north  and  west  of  a line  drawn  from  the 
corner  of  Water  and  Mulberry  Streets  to 
McKaig  Avenue,  being  the  section  line  be- 
tween 21  and  28  was  in  section  21.  All  the 
lots  between  this  line  and  a line  drawn 
from  Water  and  Mulberry  Streets  to  the 
junction  of  Union  and  West  Streets  being 
the  section  line  between  27  and  28  were  in 
section  28,  and  all  lots  of  this  first  plat 
east  of  the  said  last  named  line  were  in 
section  27. 

On  April  9,  1808,  Andrew  Wallace  made 
a second  survey  and  the  same  was  filed 
which  included  lots  from  87  of  the  first 
survey  to  lot  121,  all  located  east  of  the 
first  survey  on  lands  owned  by  W.  H.  Ga- 
hagan in  section  27,  and  lots  numbered  up 
to  173  north  and  west  of  section  21,  owned 
by  Aaron  Tullis. 

440 


On  August  21,  1808,  the  third  survey 
was  filed  on  land  owned  by  Barbee  and 
McCullough  in  section  28,  the  western 
bounds  of  which  was  a due  south  line  from 
Canal  and  Monroe  to  Market  and  West 
Streets  and  the  east  boundary  of  which 
was  a line  drawn  from  Canal  and  Union 
Streets,  due  west  to  a junction  with  Mar- 
ket and  West  Streets,  from  which  last 
street,  all  streets  south  of  it  run  with  the 
cardinal  points.  All  streets  north  of  West 
Street  run  “catawampus”  to  such  a degree 
that  the  oldest  inhabitant  is  compelled  to 
“box  the  compass”  to  find  the  cardinal 
points. 

The  ground  on  which  Troy  stands  was 
covered  with  small  oak  trees  and  was  not 
regarded  as  the  most  fertile  land.  The  en- 
tire plat  is  underlaid  with  sand  and  gravel 
— excellent  for  building  purposes,  with  a 
fine  quality  of  drinking  water  from  twelve 
to  twenty  feet  from  the  surface.  The  first 
house  built  in  Troy  was  at  the  corner  of 
sections  21,  27  and  28,  at  Mulberry  and 
Water  Streets,  by  Benjamin  Overfield,  and 
yet  no  part  of  this  house  was  in  either  of 
the  sections  named.  The  County  Court 
was  held  in  this  house  for  four  years  be- 
fore the  County  held  a title  to  it.  In  look- 
ing this  matter  of  the  location  of 
the  first  Court  House  in  Troy,  with 
the  assistance  of  Maurice  A.  Gantz, 
County  Surveyor,  I find  that  Aaron  Tullis 
entered  fractional  section  22,  containing 
1.22  acres  of  land  only,  and  corners  with 
21,  27,  and  28,  and  that  the  section  line  be- 
tween 21  and  27  extended  eastward  would 
produce  a triangular  piece  of  land  of  the 
above  named  dimensions  on  which  the 
Overfield  house  was  built  and  on  which  it 
still  stands.  This  land  was  entered  by 
Aaron  Tullis  in  1804  and  transferred  to 


CITY  OF  TROY 


441 


Cornelius  Westfall  on  June  27,  1811.  In- 
deed, none  of  the  other  lands  platted  by 
Andrew  Wallace  passed  into  the  hands  of 
the  County  until  the  31st  day  of  July, 
1813.  The  reason  for  this  consisted  in  the 
fact  that  the  land  contracted  for  in  the 
three  sections  was  purchased  on  the  par- 
tial payment  plan  and  were  not  fully  paid 
for  until  that  date. 

The  Overfield  house  has  heretofore  been 
written  about  and  always  been  regarded 
as  being  located  in  Section  27  and  its 
southeast  foundation  is  near  if  not  on  that 
sectional  corner.  It  was  a log,  two  stories 
high,  in  which  Mr.  Overfield  conducted  a 
tavern  with  Mr.  Oliver  until  1824,  and  in 
which,  the  upper  north  room,  the  Miami 
County  Court  was  held  until  1824  after  the 
December  term  of  1808. 

Overfield’s  wife  died  in  1810  and  Thos. 
Oliver  rented  the  house  until  1813.  Mr. 
Overfield  had  been  drafted  and  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  brought  back  with 
him  from  the  war  a new  wife  in  the  person 
of  Miss  Rebecca  Simpson.  After  the  Court 
was  moved  into  the  new  Court  House  on 
the  Public  Square  in  1824,  Mr.  Overfield 
kept  the  tavern  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Cherry  Streets  in  a house  standing  on  the 
corner  now  occupied  by  the  Masonic  Tem- 
ple where  he  continued  to  conduct  a suc- 
cessful hostelry  until  1831,  when  he  died. 
There  were  hotels  at  that  time  and  later 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Square, 
where  the  Steil  Dry  Goods  Store  now 
stands  and  another  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Plum  and  Water  Streets,  as  well  as 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Mul- 
berry Streets,  where  the  Hatfield  House 
now  stands.  The  present  principal  hotel 
of  Troy,  “The  New  Troy,”  was  built  in 
1852  at  about  the  time  the  C.,  H.  & D. 
Railroad  entered  Troy.  A few  years  ago 
it  was  purchased  from  Dr.  John  A.  Ster- 
rett  by  a stock  company  composed  of  the 
business  men  of  the  city,  who  remodeled 
it  and  continue  to  own  and  rent  it. 

The  first  dry  goods  store  was  conducted 
by  Dr.  Telford,  Moses  L.  Leeker  and  Wil- 


liam Barbee.  The  first  blacksmithshop 
was  conducted  by  William  Barbee  who  per- 
sonally worked  at  the  forge  and  did  a 
thriving  business  during  the  war  of  1812. 
Squire  Brown  moved  over  from  Staunton 
and  opened  a saddle  shop  on  Water  Street, 
a few  doors  east  of  Market  Street  where, 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  he  adjusted  the 
differences  between  neighbors  and  kept 
the  postoffice. 

It  was  here  that  Isaac  Peck,  Henry  Cul- 
bertson, Joseph  Skinner  and  Judge  Joseph 
Pearson  worked  and  some  of  them  learned 
their  trade.  The  first  hatter  was  Joseph 
Culbertson  in  1808  who  taught  his  trade 
to  his  brother  Samuel  and  Joseph  L.  Fen- 
erry.  The  first  carpenter  shop  was  started 
by  William  Brown  and  John  Wallace  in 
1809  at  the  corner  of  Clay  and  Water 
Streets.  There  was  a distillery  just  across 
the  street,  then  as  now.  The  old  market 
house  occupied  the  central  space  of  Market 
Street  between  the  Public  Square  and 
Franklin  Streets,  and  was  supported  by 
brick  pillars.  Uncle  John  Wilson,  for 
thirty  years  a trustee  of  Concord  Town- 
ship, the  owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of 
land  two  miles  southwest  of  Troy,  who 
raised  market  stuff,  was  full  of  reminis- 
censes  of  this  market  house.  In  the  early 
day,  the  north  end  of  Market  Street  be- 
tween the  Public  Square  and  the  river 
bridge  was  called  Commercial  Row  and  is 
even  yet  often  referred  to  as  such.  It  was 
the  first  principal  business  section.  The 
first  dry  goods  store  was  located  at  the 
Square  and  Market  Street  which  con- 
tinued as  such  until  the  seventies.  Then, 
there  was  the  first  hardware  store,  next 
door,  started  about  1830  by  Uncle  Mac 
Hart,  which  in  1845  became  a partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  Hart  and  Harter, 
and  in  1865  to  Harter  and  Houser,  and 
then  Harter  and  Cosley  until  1898,  when, 
upon  the  death  of  S.  K.  Harter,  the  senior 
partner,  it  became  H.  A.  Cosley,  under 
whose  name  it  is  still  being  conducted  in 
1918,  but  at  a new  point,  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Cherry  Streets.  Two  doors  be- 


442 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


low  the  iron  store  was  the  store  of  “Uncle 
Bobby  Caldron,”  who  sold  knick-knacks, 
including  candy,  tar  and  slate  pencils.  Tar 
was  used  to  lubricate  the  wheels  of  vehicles 
and  a tar  bucket,  in  early  years,  always 
hung  under  the  axle  for  use  when  needed. 
The  bucket,  when  empty,  was  always  re- 
plenished at  “Bobby’s”  store.  I can  see 
him  yet  with  his  slim,  bent  figure  and  pe- 
culiar Scotch  chiseled  features,  measuring 
tar  with  a yardstick  (a  slow  process),  the 
front  of  his  body  from  chin  to  foot  envel- 
oped in  a large  checked  apron.  I can  see 
him  on  a Sunday  on  his  way  to  church  with 
his  high  stock  under  his  old  silk  hat,  with 
his  bright  brass  buttons  on  his  blue  cut- 
away coat,  with  Bible  under  arm,  wending 
his  way  to  the  old  school  Presbyterian 
church  on  Main  Street,  between  Plum  and 
Short  Streets.  When  the  old  and  new 
schools  united  and  the  old  church  house 
became  the  property  of  the  English  Luth- 
erans, Bobby  refused  to  go  with  the  new 
combination  and  continued  to  worship  in 
the  old  church  with  the  Lutherans.  Dick- 
ens never  conjured  a quainter  character 
than  this  old  Scotchman,  so  long  a figure 
in  our  commercial  life.  The  first  tannery 
in  Troy  was  on  Commercial  Row  at  the 
corner  of  Market  and  Water  Streets,  kept 
by  Milton  McCampbell.  This  good  man 
was  known  for  the  lofty  flights  he  would 
reach  when  appealing  to  a throne  of  grace, 
especially  if  encouraged.  One  time  in  the 
“Old  Ship”  on  Mulberry  Street,  at  a 
prayer  meeting  when  Brother  McCamp- 
bell was  called  on  to  pray,  Sam  Johnson, 
with  a deep,  bass  voice,  knelt  alongside  of 
Sam  Binkley  in  the  same  seat  with  Milt. 
Binkley  had  a large  vein  of  humor  in  his 
composition  and  whispered  to  Sam  John- 
ston, “Let’s  ‘amen’  him  and  get  him  hot,” 
and  throughout  the  early  portion  of  Milt’s 
appeal,  the  deep  baritone  and  bass  of  the 
two  Sams  boomed  out  like  single  and  dou- 
ble strokes  on  a bass  drum,  until  Milt’s 
spirit  had  reached  the  clouds  and  he  was 
importuning  his  Maker  in  loud  and  pa- 
thetic tones  for  almost  anything,  and  the 


climax  was  reached  when  he  said,  “Oh, 
Lord,  send  down  drops  of  water  to  cool 
our  parched  tongues,”  and  then  Binkley 
with  a mighty  thrust  of  his  elbow  into 
Johnston’s  ribs,  said,  “He  thinks  we  are 
in  hell,  but  we  ain’t.”  S.  0.  Binkley  was 
my  grandfather  by  marriage  and  was  a 
good  man,  and  never  thought  of  sacrilege 
when  he  told  this  story. 

The  first  church  in  Troy  was  located  on 
the  west  corner  of  Clay  and  Main  Streets, 
where  the  first  C.,  H.  & D.  Station  stood 
for  so  many  years,  a full  description  of 
which,  with  a plate  of  the  present  Metho- 
dist Church  is  produced  elsewhere  in  this 
book. 

THE  TROY  PRESS 

The  so-called  history  of  Miami  County 
by  the  so-called  publishing  firm  of  Rich- 
mond-Arnold  Company,  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, released  on  a gullible  community  in 
1909,  among  other  remarkable  effusions 
of  literary  erudition  and  historical  ebuli- 
tion,  says  that  the  Troy  Times  was  started 
in  Troy  by  E.  C.  Harmon  in  1859,  whereas 
it  was  started  by  John  T.  Tullis  in  1829. 
It  says  that  Tullis  conducted  the  Miami 
Reporter  for  eight  years,  whereas,  he  had 
never  edited  or  published  the  Reporter  at 
any  time.  It  says  that  H.  D.  Stout  took 
charge  of  the  Reporter  after  the  eight 
years  by  Tullis ; whereas,  Richard  C.  Lang- 
don  succeeded  Mr.  Tullis  on  the  Times, 
the  only  newspaper  in  Troy  at  that  date. 
It  says  the  Times  ceased  as  a newspaper 
in  1869,  whereas,  it  was  published  in  1870. 
If  they  had  consulted  the  records  of  Miami 
County  they  would  have  found  the  County 
Commissioners  were  advertising  in  the 
Troy  Times  as  early  as  1831,  and  was  the 
exclusive  Troy  medium  for  the  letting  of 
the  new  Troy  Court  House,  commenced  in 
1839  and  finished  in  1845. 

In  1865,  John  W.  DeFrees  started  the 
Miami  Union  and  this  paper  is  still  being 
published  in  1918  by  Pauley  and  McClung. 
The  Troy  Sentinel,  the  first  Democratic 
paper,  was  first  published  in  1871  by  J.  A. 


THE  MIAMI  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 

In  which  court  has  been  held  since  1888  Calvin  D.  Wright  was  the  first  judge  to  hold  court  here, 
and  John  B.  Fouts  was  clerk.  The  first  case  on  the  docket  was  brought  by  J.  A.  and  E.  H.  Kerr,  at- 
torneys,  of  Tippecanoe,  for  Levi  Barnett. 

The  true  story  of  the  origin  of  the  above  building,  never  before  written,  appears  on  Page  364,  of 
this  work. 


THE  CITY  OF  THE  DEAD,  RIVERSIDE  CEMETERY,  TROY,  OHIO 

With  a greater  population  than  the  city  of  the  living. 


THE  HOME  OF  CHARLES  A.  DALE,  MARKET  & RAPER  STREETS,  TROY,  OHIO 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Monticelli,  Indiana,  on  February  25,  1865,  and  lived  with  his 
parents,  Daniel  D.  and  Ophelia  H.  Dale,  until  manhood.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  be- 
came the  superintendent  of  the  paper  mill  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  where  he  married  Estella  E rash- 
wilier  in  June  of  1891.  He  came  to  Troy  first  in  1902  when  he  published  The  Troy  Democrat,  the  only 
Democratic  weekly  cf  Miami  county  but  on  account  of  obligations  to  the  paper  mill,  remained  with  them 
until  1906  when  he  came  to  Troy  to  take  charge  of  his  property  and  remain  here  permanently.  In  1909, 
he  established  the  Daily  News  but  disposed  of  it  in  1911.  Mr.  Dale  has  proven  himself  an  excellent  political 
organizer  and  has  constantly  cut  into  the  Republican  major iJy  of  the  county.  He  was  tax  commissioner 
of  Miami  county  during  the  Cox  administration  of  1912-14.  In  1916,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Troy 
and  under  present  civil  service  rules  bids  fair  to  remain  in  that  position  longer  than  any  of  his  prede- 
cessors. From  his  marriage,  three  children  have  been  born : Dorothy,  the  eldest,  who  married  John  K. 

Knoop,  a lineal  descendant  of  the  fir- 1 John  Knoop,  of  Staunton,  in  1798,  a young  man  of  promising 
qualities  with  extensive  land  interests  in  the  county.  A young  heir,  Mark  Dale  Knoop,  has  already  blessed 
this  recent  marriage,  to  transmit  the  honored  name.  Lawrence  Daniel  is  a member  of  the  31st  company  of 
th<“  8th  Training  Battalion  at  Camp  Sherman,  near  Chillicothe.  Ohio,  and  is  said  to  be  making  good  as  a 
soldier  and  good  reports  may  be  expected  from  him  in  France  next  summer.  The  youngest,  Catharine, 
married  recently  to  Griffith  Knoop. 

The  post  office  receipts  at  Troy  have  grown  from  less  than  $40,000  per  annum  to  $50,000  per  annum 
under  Mr.  Dale's  administration.  He  is  an  effi cient  business  man  and  needs  to  be  under  the  new  uLt.es 
thrust  on  him  by  the  post  office  department.  All  the  post  offices  of  Miami  county  except  Piqua,  Tippecanoe 
City,  and  Pleasant  Hill,  fourteen  in  all,  have  been  made  stations  or  branches  of  Troy,  which  receives  their 
reports  as  a part  of  the  Troy  office.  This  recent  departure,  probably  portends  but  one  office,  Troy,  in 
the  county,  except  possibly  Piqua.  Some  of  us  are  not  in  love  with  Mr.  Dale’s  politics  but  all  of  us  like 
him  personally. 


417  EAST  FRANKLIN  STREET,  TROY,  OHIO 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  American  born  of  German  parentage,  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  February 
22,  1851,  and  lived  with  his  father  and  mother,  Philip  and  Rebecca  Yingling  Conrad,  until  11  years  of  age. 
They  moved  to  Michigan  where  George  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  afterward  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  near  Versailles,  Morgan  county,  Missouri,  where  they  gathered  some  horses  and  cattle 
around  them,  which  were  taken  care  of  by  the  boys  when  the  father  went  to  Sedalia  and  worked  at  the 
carpenter  trade.  The  ugly  front  of  war,  in  1861  set  father  against  son  and  brother  against  brother  in  that 
state  and  the  infamous  Quantrell  band  endangered  the  life  of  every  Union  man  in  that  section.  The  father 
of  George,  was  an  ardent  Union  man  and  came  back  to  the  farm  in  1861,  when  Quantrell’s  men  came  to 
his  home  and  started  to  drive  off  the  stock.  There  being  but  two  of  them,  the  elder  Conrad  successfully 
resisted  them  and  for  the  time  being  saved  his  property.  At  this  time,  George,  ten  years  of  age,  was  sent 
to  a country  store  owned  by  a Mr.  Jones  for  some  family  necessities  and  on  his  return,  was  confronted  by 
a hundred  men  on  horseback,  the  leader  of  whom  asked  George  where  his  father  was  to  which  he  replied 
that  he  did  not  know.  The  leader  threatened  him  with  a revolver  but  was  constrained  to  desist  by  some  of 
his  band.  When  George  arrived  home  a dozen  of  the  band  had  been  there  and  carried  off  his  father  and  his 
horse.  Six  weeks  afterward  the  dead  body  of  his  father  and  his  horse  were  discovered  in  a woods,  the 
bones  only  remaining.  George  and  his  elder  brother  went  to  these  woods  six  miles  distant,  gathered  the 
skeleton  of  their  father  into  a bag  and  buried  it  beneath  a peach  tree  on  the  heme  place.  His  mother  was 
left  without  any  funds  and  nothing  to  eat.  The  storekeeper,  Mr.  Jones,  conveyed  them  to  Tipton,  the 
nearest  railroad  station  and  through  a colonel  of  a regiment  in  Siegel’s  army  newly  located  there  that  had 
just  been  paid  ofF,  collected  from  the  soldiers  a fund  to  buy  them  food  for  their  journey.  The  railroad 
furnished  the  stricken  family  with  transportation  to  Cincinnati  and  the  remaining  funds  to  Milford  Center, 
Union  county,  Ohio,  where  they  were  met  by  his  uncle,  Lawrence  Schatz,  who  took  George  to  live  with 
him  until  he  was  16  years  of  age  when  he  learned  his  trade  of  manufacturing  blacksmith.  He  was  married 
in  1873  to  Lena  Magerlein  who  died  in  1877,  from  which  union,  one  daughter  Mrs.  William  Frisch,  of 
Piqua,  was  born.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Mary  Nicol,  of  Marysville,  Ohio,  November  9,  1891,  an  1 
from  this  union,  four  sons  Herman  W.,  John  Leonard,  George  Edward  and  Albert  Cornelius,  have  been 
born,  respectively  in  September,  1882,  July  12,  1884,  January  8,  1889,  and  July  13,  1891.  He  came  to  Troy 
many  years  ago  as  the  contractor  of  all  iron  work  entering  into  the  construction  of  the  buggies  in  the 
Troy  Buggy  Works  at  that  time  enjoying  a great  patronage.  He  is  a member  of  the  St.  John's  Evan- 
gelical church,  a member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Elks  and  had  a military  service  of  8 years  in  the  National 
Guard.  Has  served  in  the  council  of  Troy  and  now  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  His  80  acre  farm 
furnishes  him  outdoor  employment  and  enjoyment. 


THE  HOME  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  CONRAU 


CITY  OF  TROY 


447 


McConahey.  It  afterward  passed  into  the 
hands  of  J.  M.  Kerr  and  was  discontinued 
in  1880.  It  was  followed  by  the  Imperial 
and  Bulletin,  both  of  which  died  the  death 
of  inanition. 

The  Troy  Democrat  was  started  by  J.  F. 
Barron  in  1880,  who  sold  to  M.  K.  Gantz 
and  J.  A.  Kerr,  who  sold  to  Charles  H. 
Dale,  who  continues  to  edit  it,  but  has 
leased  the  plant  to  C.  H.  Hinkle,  the  pub- 
lisher of  the  Troy  Daily  Times,  which 
name,  after  a Rip  Van  Winkle  sleep  of  not 
twenty,  but  nearly  fifty  years  awoke  to  ac- 
tive life  again.  The  Troy  Chronicle  and 
Daily  Trojan  were  published  by  Dr.  C.  H. 
Goodrich  between  1880  and  1885,  and  then 
went  out  of  existence.  The  Troy  Record 
was  published  by  the  Croy  Brothers,  and 
by  W.  S.  Croy  from  1898  to  1917,  when  it 
was  succeeded  by  the  Troy  Daily  Times. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  11,  1918. 
Col.  F.  M.  Sterrett,  Troy,  Ohio. 

My  Dear  Frank — In  glancing  over  one 
of  your  recent  letters,  I notice  you  ask  me 
to  write  you  a'  letter  concerning  the  Troy 
newspapers  of  the  past  and  particularly  in 
regard  to  the  Miami  Reporter  and  the 
Troy  Times. 

I think  it  has  been  the  general  impres- 
sion among  Trojans,  and  it  has  been  mine 
until  recently  that  the  Miami  Reporter 
was  the  first  newspaper  published  in  Troy. 

Such,  however,  appears  not  to  have  been 
the  fact.  Dr.  Asa  Coleman  was  one  of  the 
early  and  most  prominent  citizens  of  Troy 
and  what  he  says  on  the  subject  would 
bear  the  stamp  of  personal  knowledge  and 
verity. 

I have  a copy  of  a statement  made  by 
him  in  1866  over  his  own  signature  in 
which  he  says  the  first  paper  published  in 
Troy  was  in  1817  and  continued  on  with- 
out interruption  of  time  from  that  period. 
It  was  first  printed  under  the  title  of  the 
Miami  Weekly  Post  by  a Mr.  Dougherty, 
and  transferred  to  Richard  Armstrong  in 
1819  and  conducted  by  him  two  or  three 
years,  and  changed  hands  once  or  twice 


more  before  the  purchase  of  the  press  by 
Mica  j ah  Fairfield  and  a change  of  the  title 
of  the  paper  to  that  of  the  Miami  Reporter 
which  commenced  a new  series  without 
reference  to  a former  publication.  The 
Post,  according  to  Dr.  Coleman,  was  al- 
ways strongly  Republican  in  its  principles 
and  advocated  the  election  of  John  Quincy 
Adams  or  Henry  Clay  to  the  Presidency 
and  the  protection  and  encouragement  of 
domestic  manufactures  which  was  strong- 
ly agitated  during  that  period. 

The  first  number  of  the  Miami  Reporter, 
according  to  the  statement  of  E.  C.  Har- 
mon (who  possessed  a complete  file  of  the 
Reporter),  was  issued  May  18,  1827.  In 
this  initial  number  the  editor  declares  him- 
self “a  real  Republican,  and  of  course  a 
hater  of  slavery  and  everything  that  sup- 
ports it.”  He  thinks  well  of  John  Quincy 
Adams  and  hopes  he  will  be  elected  in- 
stead of  Andrew  Jackson.  The  editor  (Mr. 
Fairfield)  was  a minister,  and  if  my  mem- 
ory is  correct  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  W.  I. 
Thomas  and  of  Mrs.  Zachariah  Riley.  The 
Reporter  continued  to  be  published  under 
that  title  until  the  end  of  1829  when  it  was 
succeeded  by  the  Troy  Times  and  Miami 
Reporter  in  January,  1830.  The  sub-title 
of  Miami  Reporter  was  carried  a short 
time  but  finally  dropped  leaving  the  single 
title  of  The  Troy  Times. 

Having  no  access  at  present  to  the  earli- 
est issues  of  the  Times  I am  unable  to  state 
from  memory  who  was  the  first  editor, 
though  at  one  time,  many  years  ago,  I had 
in  my  possession  a copy  of  Vol.  1,  No.  1. 

In  1843  the  editor  and  publisher  was 
Henry  D.  Stout,  who  continued  in  that  ca- 
pacity alone  until  the  29th  of  October, 
1845,  when  he  associated  with  him  Mr.  D. 
B.  Williams. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1847,  Stout  and 
Williams  sold  out  to  Joseph  Lytle  and  Rob- 
ert W.  Furnas.  This  partnership  contin- 
ued until  January  6,  1848,  when  Lytle  re- 
tired and  the  publication  was  continued 
by  Robert  W.  Furnas  and  S.  E.  Hustler. 

Some  time  between  December  25,  1848, 


448 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


and  March  22,  1849,  Hustler  retired  and 
the  publishing  firm  became  Robert  W.  Fur- 
nas and  Marvin  M.  Munson.  Hustler  was 
quite  an  interesting  and  popular  character, 
especially  politically.  During  the  Harri- 
son campaign  of  1840  he  earned  a wide 
reputation  as  a campaign  rhymster  and 
singer.  He  had  the  faculty  of  adapting 
himself  to  his  immediate  surroundings  and 
would  improvise  his  songs,  adapting  them 
to  the  incidents  of  the  day  or  even  of  the 
very  moment  preceding  their  utterance.  In 
subsequent  campaigns  down  to  that  of 
1860  he  participated  to  a lesser  extent 
along  these  same  lines.  He  served  two 
terms  as  Sheriff  of  Miami  County,  was 
sutler  of  the  71st  Ohio  Regiment  at  the 
time  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  died  in 
the  early  seventies. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1849,  Furnas 
sold  out  to  Munson,  who  became  the  sole 
editor  and  publisher. 

After  his  disconnection  with  the  paper 
Furnas  engaged  in  business  of  various 
kinds  in  Troy  and  was  for  a time  express 
agent.  In  March,  1856,  he  removed  to 
Brownsville,  Nebraska,  then  a small  fron- 
tier town,  and  began  the  publication  of  a 
weekly  paper.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
politics,  became  a member  of  the  terri- 
torial legislature  and,  after  Nebraska  was 
admitted  to  the  Union,  was  successively 
President  of  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture and  Governor  of  the  State.  During 
the  rebellion  he  raised  a regiment  of  In- 
dians for  service  on  the  border  and  was 
commissioned  its  colonel. 

June  5,  1851,  Munson  associated  with 
him  in  the  publication  of  J.  S.  Jennison, 
until  the  28th  of  October,  1852,  when  they 
sold  out  to  David  Gibbs,  who  became  the 
editor,  with  W.  B.  Locke,  as  printer. 

Munson,  it  is  my  impression,  married  a 
daughter  of  R.  H.  Culbertson,  the  sister  of 
Mrs.  Judge  Parsons  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Smith. 

David  Gibbs  continued  to  edit  the  paper 
until  November  17,  1853,  when  he  sold  it 
to  Charles  Gibbs  and  W.  E.  Burgess; 


Gibbs  in  turn  selling  out  to  Burgess  on  the 
2d  of  February,  1854,  and  Burgess  in  like 
turn,  selling  back  to  Gibbs  November  9, 
1854. 

June  7,  1855,  E.  C.  Harmon  bought  out 
Gibbs  and  continued  to  be  the  publisher 
until  the  paper  was  discontinued  some 
time  in  the  early  seventies,  the  exact  date 
of  which  I have  not  at  hand. 

Most  persons,  especially  boys,  at  some 
time  or  other  in  their  careers  become  pos- 
sesed  of  a fad.  I was  seized  by  one  when 
about  12  or  13  years  of  age.  It  took  the 
form  of  collecting  a copy  of  every  differ- 
ent newspaper  that  I could  possess  myself 
of.  This  resulted  in  bringing  into  my 
hands  a very  large  collection,  ranging  in 
date  from  about  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  down  to  the  date  of  my  oper- 
ations. Something  like  a thousand  speci- 
mens represented  Ohio  publications  alone. 
Among  these,  as  my  memory  tells  me,  were 
twenty-one  representing  the  hopes  and  as- 
pirations of  ambitious  publishers  in  the 
town  of  Troy  and  nearly  an  equal  num- 
ber in  Piqua.  Many  of  these,  after  a pa- 
thetic struggle  for  existence,  dropped  qui- 
etly into  the  graveyard  of  human  hopes. 
Some  were  only  temporary  publications, 
intended  during  a Presidential  campaign 
to  uphold  the  cause  of  favorite  candidates. 
The  famous  Harrison  campaign  of  1840 
was  exceedingly  prolific  of  these  transient 
sheets. 

After  the  lapse  of  as  many  years,  mem- 
ory refuses  to  recall  the  names  of  very 
many  of  these  Trojan  productions.  In  ad- 
dition to  those  previously  mentioned  I can 
at  the  present  moment  only  recall,  The 
Troy  Saturday  Clipper;  We  Call  the  Peo- 
ple; The  Miami  Commercial;  The  Log 
Cabin  and  the  Touchstone. 

The  first  paper  in  Piqua  was  the  Piqua 
Gazette  and  it  began  publication  in  April, 
1821.  I am  unable  now  to  state  who  was 
the  original  publisher,  but  four  years  later, 
in  1825,  it  was  in  the  hands  of  W.  R. 
Barrington  and  A.  F.  Carpenter. 

The  foregoing  echoes  from  the  past  may 


CITY  OF  TROY 


449 


be  of  interest  to  you  in  your  historical  in- 
vestigations, and  if  so  I shall  feel  fully 
compensated  for  the  effort. 

Sincerely  yours, 

C.  C.  Royce. 

NOTES 

1.  It  was  the  wife  of  Mica j ah  Fairfield 
who  was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  W.  I.  Thomas. 
Her  first  husband  was  a Mr.  Neale,  of  Par- 
kersburg, W.  Va. 

2.  The  volumes  of  the  Troy  Times  for 
1838-1839  on  file  in  the  Troy  Library  show 
that  John  T.  Tullis  first  published  it.  He 
was  a book  store  man  and  our  earliest  local 
historian.  He  sold  out  to  Richard  C.  Lang- 
don  in  1838  and  not  to  Henry  D.  Stout,  as 
all  former  historians  of  Miami  County 
have  stated. 

Robert  W.  Furnas,  aside  from  the  offices 
held  by  him  as  described  by  friend  Royce, 
was  also  the  Secretary  of  the  Miami  Coun- 
ty Agricultural  Society  in  1854-1855. 

C.  C.  Royce  is  the  author  of  “Indian 
Land  Sessions  of  the  United  States,”  one 
thousand  pages  and  67  maps,  compiled  for 
the  Government  and  used  as  exclusive 
authority  in  all  of  its  departments. 

Frank  M.  Sterrett, 

Author  of  “The  Home  History  of  Miami 

County.” 

The  following  letter  from  my  friend 
Royce  shows  that  my  own  statement  as  to 
the  founder  of  the  Troy  Times  was  slightly 
in  error.  It  would  now  seem  safe  to  de- 
pend upon  this  compilation  for  a practi- 
cally correct  history  of  the  Troy  Times. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  19,  1918. 

My  Dear  Frank — I have  your  letter  of 
the  15th  inst.,  in  which  you  say  that  Tullis 
founded  the  Times — this  is  ecrtain.” 

I find  that  many  things  besides  life  are 
uncertain.  I have  just  run  across  a state- 
ment from  John  T.  Tullis  himself  saying, 
“December  3,  1829, 1.  S.  Drake  commenced 
the  Troy  Times.  March  25,  1830,  I pur- 
chased half  the  office.  We  published  to- 
gether until  May  6,  1831,  when  I bought 


Drake’s  interest  and  continued  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1839,  when  I sold  to  R.  C.  Langdon, 
and  Langdon  sold  to  Stout  in  February, 
1841.  Drake  and  I never  got  the  paper 
out  short  of  two  or  three  days  and  often 
a week  after  the  date.  If  I would  leave 
home  the  day  before  publication  day, 
Drake  and  the  journeyman  would  go  fish- 
ing and  so  vexed  my  righteous  soul  more 
than  a year,  when  to  end  it  all,  I bought 
his  interest.” 

This  statement  of  Tullis  refreshes  my 
own  memory  for  I now  recollect  clearly 
that  the  name  of  I.  S.  Drake  as  publisher 
headed  the  Vol.  1,  No.  1 of  the  Times  that 
I once  possessed. 

In  this  statement  of  Tullis  he  concurs 
with  that  of  E.  C.  Harmon  that  the  first 
number  of  the  Miami  Reporter  was  dated 
May  18,  1827,  but  he  says  the  last  issue 
was  December  19,  1828,  leaving  a hiatus 
of  a year  between  its  decease  and  the  birth 
of  the  Troy  Times. 

“I  am  sending  you  this  additional  data 
in  order  that  you  may  have  all  the  facts 
essential  to  the  correctness  of  your  histor- 
ical statement. 

Sincerely  yours, 

C.  C.  Royce. 

THE  TROY  SCHOOLS 

In  1875,  when  Prof.  John  W.  Dowd  was 
Superintendent,  he  wrote  an  interesting 
“Sketch  of  the  Schools  of  Troy,”  in  which 
the  course  of  study  was  laid  down,  as 
adopted  by  the  Board,  and  in  which  was 
also  entered  a list  of  the  graduates,  year 
by  year,  which  book  is  still  kept  and  added 
to  each  year,  on  which  are  entered  the 
names  of  719  graduates.  The  first  four  in 
1856  were  John  W.  Morris,  Diana  Meeks, 
Augustus  Brandriff  and  W.  S.  Thomas.  At 
the  commencement  in  1917  there  were  45 
graduates.  Mr.  Dowd  gives  the  following 
names  and  dates  of  teachers : 

Samuel  Kyle,  1813;  Rev.  Micajah  Fair- 
field,  1826;  John  Petit,  1831!  Benjamin  F. 
Powers,  1832 ; Mr.  Walkup,  1833-34-35 ; 
Uriah  Fordyce,  1837 ; Hiram  Brooks, 


450 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


1837 ; Miss  Barney,  1838 ; George  D.  Bur- 
gess, 1839-41 ; Robert  McCurdy,  1842 ; E. 
P.  Coles,  1843 ; Minor  Fairfield,  1845 ; Rev. 
Edmund  Fairfield,  1845-46. 

Mr.  Dowd  is  to  be  congratulated  on  this 
compilation.  In  the  interest  of  future  his- 
tory, I suggest  that  this  book  be  revised 
and  the  names  of  graduates  from  Mr. 
Dowd’s  time  be  printed  and  that  the  grad- 
uation essays  and  orations  of  the  past,  as 
near  as  can  be  collected  and  published  and 
bound  and  those  of  the  future,  likewise,  be 
printed  and  bound  under  the  loose  leaf 
system  of  binding.  These  graduation  ef- 
forts mark  the  entrance  of  our  best  quali- 
fied young  men  and  women  into  the  battle 
of  life.  The  knowledge  that  these  efforts 
were  to  be  so  kept  would  serve  as  an  in- 
spiration to  their  successors  and  would 
foster  a spirit  of  emulation  to  equal  and 
surpass. 

Mr.  Dowd  frankly  states,  as  these  early 
schools  are  not  a matter  of  record,  it  is  ex- 
ceedingly difficult  to  give  a correct  history 
of  them  and  their  workings. 

One  of  the  effects  of  these  early  schools 
was  to  prepare  the  public  mind  for  the 
adoption  of  the  “Law  of  Forty-Nine.” 

Under  that  law  a call  was  issued  for  a 
meeting  to  consider  it  in  reference  to  its 
adoption.  The  call  was  signed  by  George 
D.  Burgess,  Rev.  Daniel  Rice,  William  B. 
Johnson,  Benjamin  F.  Powers  and  Joseph 
Pearson. 

Several  meetings  were  held  and  much 
excitement  prevailed.  The  matter  was 
discussed  for  three  weeks,  and  was  the 
topic  of  common  conversation  in  town. 
At  the  final  meeting  the  law  was  adopted 
by  a fair  majority  and  in  accordance  with 
its  provisions  a Board  of  Education  was 
elected  the  first  week  in  June.  That  first 
Board  of  Education  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing members : Charles  Morris,  Daniel 
Rice,  Benjamin  F.  Powers,  William  B. 
Johnson,  Zachariah  Riley  and  Henry  S. 
Mayo.  Mr.  Dowd  should  have  mentioned 
that  Andrew  Wallace,  the  Surveyor,  who 
made  the  first  plat  of  Troy,  was  the  first 


school  teacher,  having  taught  in  a log 
house  on  Franklin  Street,  on  the  second 
lot  on  the  north  side  below  the  C.,  PI.  & 
D.  Railroad  in  1808-09,  and  it  was  here  his 
son  Dave  went  to  school  to  his  father. 
Dave  was  afterward  appointed  by  General 
flarrison  to  West  Point,  and  afterward 
Congressman  from  Indiana,  and  as  before 
mentioned,  the  Governor  of  Indiana,  Dave 
— as  he  was  familiarly  called  while  he 
lived  in  Troy,  lost  his  seat  in  Congress  on 
acocunt  of  an  appropriation  of  $30,000  for 
which  he  voted  to  promote  the  first  tele- 
graph line  between  Baltimore  and  Wash- 
ington City,  introduced  by  Professor 
Morse. 

Mr.  Dowd  fell  into  another  error  when 
he  says,  “At  an  early  date,  there  was  a 
small  brick  building  on  Main  Street,  where 
the  Edwards  School  building  now  stands. 
It  was  built  by  public  subscription  and 
consisted  of  one  room.” 

The  fact  is,  this  brick  building  cost 
$112.75,  which  fund  was  advanced  by  the 
Commissioners  of  Miami  County  who,  to 
save  themselves  harmless  for  such  ad- 
vance of  County  funds  for  corporation 
purposes,  accepted  the  bond  of  W.  I. 
Thomas  and  others.  On  August  2,  1826, 
this  friend  of  education,  after  securing 
this  first  school  house  for  Troy,  secured 
his  release  from  the  bond  and  had  substi- 
tuted therefor  the  bond  of  Cornelius  West- 
fall,  Levi  Hart  and  Joseph  R.  Johns,  di- 
rectors of  the  Third  School  District  of 
Concord  Township  in  his  and  their  stead. 

While  Mr.  Dowd  was  approximately  cor- 
rect about  the  time  that  George  D.  Burgess 
taught  school,  The  Troy  Times  of  July, 
1838,  and  subsequent  thereto  contains  the 
advertisement  of  Mr.  Burgess  and  the 
terms  on  which  he  will  receive  pupils  in 
;the  basement  of  the  Trinity  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Dowd’s  statement  that  Mr. 
Burgess  taught  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Board  of  Education  is  probably  incorrect 
since  the  advertisement  is  a purely  per- 
sonal one. 

John  Petit,  who  taught  here  in  1831,  be- 


CITY  OF  TROY 


451 


came  a United  States  Senator  from  Kan- 
sas; Benjamin  F.  Powers,  of  the  first 
Board  of  Education,  was  a brother  of  Hi- 
ram Powers,  the  great  sculptor,  who 
among  other  great  pieces,  produced  the 
“Greek  Slave,”  among  the  greatest  ones 
in  sculpture.  I saw  it  many  times  in  the 
Corcoran  Art  Gallery,  Washington,  D.  C., 
years  ago  ,and  it  is  probably  there  now. 

The  School  Board  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple of  Troy  a bond  issue  for  $6,000,  for  the 
first  Edwards  School  Building  which  was 
carried  and  afterward  increased  to  $8,500. 

The  selection  of  William  N.  Edwards  as 
first  Superintednent  was  most  fortunate. 
It  was  due  to  his  energy  and  devotion  that 
the  Troy  High  School  took  rank,  in  an 
early  period,  with  the  foremost  in  the 
State.  When  he  died,  the  busines  houses 
of  Troy  closed,  residences  were  draped  in 
mourning,  and  all  knew  that  a public  ca- 
lamity had  befallen.  I think  he  must 
have  been  six  feet  in  height,  with  a dark 
complexion  and  a most  wonderful  pair  of 
eyes.  When  I went  to  him  for  my  matric- 
ulation card  as  a country  boy  of  16  years, 
I looked  into  them  with  the  feeling  one 
has  when  suddenly  confronted  in  the  dark 
by  the  eyes  of  a great  owl.  I guess  this 
is  an  indifferent  description,  but  those  who 
have  seen  them  will  know  just  what  I 
mean. 

The  Forest,  Edwards,  Kyle  and  Van 
Cleve  School  Buildings,  respectively,  ap- 
proximately cost  $35,45,65  and  $155,000 
equipped. 

From  1852  to  1867,  W.  N.  Edwards  was 
Superintendent;  from  1867  to  1871,  H.  A. 
Thomson,  of  Otterbein  College;  from  1871 
to  1874,  L.  V.  Ferris,  of  Middleburg  Col- 
lege, Vermont;  from  1874  to  1875,  H.  P. 
Ufford,  of  Delaware,  Ohio ; from  1875  to 
1880,  John  V/.  Dowd,  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio; 
from  1880  to  1906,  C.  L.  Van  Cleve;  from 
1906  to  1918,  Charles  William  Cookson,  of 
Straitsville,  Ohio,  the  present  efficient  Su- 
perintendent, and  the  sketch  of  whose  life 
will  appear  in  this  book  under  a plate  of 
the  Van  Cleve  School  Building. 


In  the  front  hallway  of  the  Van  Cleve 
High  School  Building  on  East  Main  Street, 
the  following  words  appear  on  a tablet : 
“Motives  in  Education,  Character,  Health, 
Skill,  Culture,  Knowledge.” 

THE  TROY  WATER  WORKS 

An  extended  description  of  these  works 
would  be  superfluous  in  the  light  of  the 
fact  that  a most  excellent  history  is  main- 
tained in  the  annual  report  of  the  City 
Auditor.  It  is  only  for  the  purpose  of  set- 
ting forth  the  causes  which  induced  their 
building  and  the  early  history  of  the  move- 
ment, never  before  published,  that  I write 
this  brief  sketch. 

In  the  spring  of  1883,  the  nursery  office 
of  James  H.  Young  was  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  present  restaurant  building  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  Public  Square,  and 
it  was  here,  at  that  time,  that  Mr.  Young, 
Jesse  Shilling,  Sr.,  and  Frank  M.  Sterrett 
met  to  discuss  the  propriety  of  creating 
water  works  for  Troy.  At  that  time,  the 
citizens  derived  their  water  supply  from 
open  and  driven  wells,  water  being  reached 
in  from  twelve  to  twenty  feet.  Every  res- 
idence in  Troy  had  a well  and  pump,  and 
most  all  business  houses  had  a small  iron 
pump  in  the  rear  part  of  their  buildings 
with  which  to  draw  water  out  of  their 
wells,  usually  of  the  driven  kind.  I do  not 
now  recollect  more  than  one  town  pump 
near  the  Public  Square,  and  that  was  in 
front  of  Isaac  Hoagland’s  grocery,  now 
occupied  by  Harry  T.  Gabriel  as  a shoe 
store.  A tin  cup  hung  from  a nail  on 
this  pump,  which  was  kept  in  use  quite 
constantly  upon  the  part  of  the  citizens 
passing  by.  There  were  fire  wells  in  the 
Public  Square  and  throughout  the  then 
village  of  Troy.  The  water  was  pulled  from 
these  wells  originally,  by  the  hand  fire  en- 
gine conducted  by  a volunteer  company 
without  pay,  until  the  steamer  engine  was 
introduced. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Shilling,  a bot- 
tle of  water  was  secured  from  the  Hoag- 
land  town  pump  and  sent  to  the  State 


452 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Board  of  Health  for  analysis,  which 
proved  that  the  water  of  Troy  was  quite 
unhealthy. 

Through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
above-named  gentlemen,  an  election  for  a 
Board  of  Trustees  authorized  to  build  a 
Water  Works  was  held  in  the  Spring  of 
1883,  and  the  three  above-named  gentle- 
men were  elected  as  such  Trustees  and  as 
soon  as  the  law  permitted,  advertised  for 
bids  and  let  the  contract  for  main  and  pipe 
and  seven  and  one-half  miles  of  pipe  were 
laid  and  covered  during  the  Summer  and 
Autumn  of  1883. 

The  Trustees  let  a contract  for  a 
Knowles  pump  in  the  Fall  of  1883,  and 
were  enjoined  by  several  citizens  from 
placing  the  same  in  the  present  building 
erected  for  that  purpose,  on  account  of  the 
desire  of  a faction,  some  of  whom  believed 
and  other  pretended  to  believe  that  no 
steam  should  be  used,  but  that  exclusive 
water  power  should  be  employed.  This 
case  went  into  Court  and  was  compro- 
mised during  the  trial,  the  result  of  which 
installed  two  water  wheels,  one  of  seventy- 
five  and  the  other  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
horsepower.  These,  as  the  Trustees  had 
foreseen,  proved  inadequate,  and  a Gor- 
don Duplex  Compound  Pump  of  one  and 
a half  million  gallons  capacity  per  twenty- 
four  hours,  etc.,  was  installed. 

The  danger  of  depending  on  water 
power  alone,  consisting  in  the  probable 
breaking  of  the  hydraulic  and  leaving  the 
town  at  the  mercy  of  fire  without  auxiliary 
steam  was  demonstrated  in  the  flood  of 
1898  when  the  banks  went  out  and  since 
which  time  the  hydraulic  bed  has  reverted 
to  its  original  use  as  a corn  field.  Mr. 
Young  and  Mr.  Shilling  resigned  after  the 
Court  proceedings,  while  the  writer  re- 
mained as  the  President  of  the  Board  and 
assisted  in  turning  the  valves  which  let 
the  water  into  the  pipes  during  the  test, 
when  he  also  resigned.  In  the  test,  two 
pipes  blew  out,  the  smallest  per  cent  in 
the  history  of  Ohio  water  works  building, 
due  to  the  excellent  work  of  Mr.  Shilling, 


a practical  pipe  and  foundry  man  who, 
with  his  brother,  had  established  the  first 
foundry  in  Troy.  Many  of  his  iron  fences 
yet  stand  in  Troy. 

The  miles  of  pipe  line  have  increased 
from  seven  and  one-half  to  over  twenty; 
the  number  of  wells  from  two  to  twenty- 
one.  The  mains  now  deliver  over  a million 
gallons  per  day.  Each  man,  woman  and 
child  in  Troy  averages  a consumption  of 
150  gallons  of  water  each  day.  The  water 
furnished  is  almost  chemically  pure. 

I have  promised  my  readers  to  take 
them  with  me  through  the  process  of  his- 
tory making,  so  they  may  know  the  integ- 
rity of  mind  that  controls  this  compilation. 
In  the  case  we  now  state  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  deceive,  even  if  we  desired  to 
do  so,  since  the  act  would  be  self-apparent. 

On  pages  39  and  40  of  part  one  of  this 
work  I located  the  40th  parallel  of  latitude 
a short  distance  south  of  Troy,  and  on 
page  40,  on  the  authority  of  Charles  N. 
Burns  and  Judge  H.  H.  Williams,  located 
it  north  of  Troy. 

I have  since  discovered  that  the  monu- 
ment at  the  south  side  of  the  Infirmary 
farm  is  a meridian  stone  placed  on  a line 
with  one  in  the  front  yard  of  the  Infirmary 
from  which  to  calculate  longitude,  and, 
therefore,  Judge  Williams  was  in  error 
about  the  information  furnitshed  me  in 
that  reference. 

I herewith  append  the  following  cer- 
tificate which  shows  that  my  first  state- 
ment was  correct.  The  altitude  of  Troy 
on  the  Public  Square  is  832  feet. 

“The  Public  Square  of  Troy  is  40  deg. 
2 min.,  23  sec.  N.  latitude,  and  84  deg.,  12 
min.,  11  sec.  West  of  Greenwich,  making  a 
difference  between  Sun  and  Standard  time 
of  23  minutes,  111/2  seconds.” 

(Calculated  by  Wm.  R.  Kinder,  Dep. 
Co.  Surveyor.) 3 

POSTMASTERS 

The  following  persons  have  served  as 
Postmasters  of  Tory : 

Cornelius  Westfall,  W.  I.  Thomas,  John 


CITY  OF  TROY 


453 


G.  Telford,  Levi  Hart,  John  T.  Tulils,  Jo- 
seph Pearson,  Henry  J.  Petit,  John  Black, 
Robert  M.  Baurbour,  Thomas  B.  Rose, 
George  W.  Bull,  Samuel  McKee,  Harriet 
E.  Drury,  John  H.  Drury,  Frank  M.  Ster- 
rett,  John  W.  Morris,  N.  C.  Clyde,  J.  W. 
Davis,  S.  D.  Frank,  Walter  M.  Kyle,  E. 
A.  Jackson,  Chas.  H.  Dale. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  30,  1918. 
Col.  F.  M.  Sterrett,  Troy  Ohio. 

My  Dear  Frank — The  interest  I have 
taken  in  your  researches  into  ancient  Mi- 
ami County  history  has  brought  me  into  a 
reminiscent  mood  and  as  I sit  at  my  open 
window  drinking  in  the  soft  Spring  air, 
and  watching  the  fringe  of  green  leaves 
that  is  gradually  transforming  the  long 
lines  of  naked  trees  into  ambragious 
beauty,  I am  constrained  to  look  back 
across  the  vista  of  by-gone  years  and  recall 
some  of  the  scenes  and  incidents  of  long 
ago,  that  have  for  me  a personal  interest, 
though  of  little  value  or  consequence  to 
any  one  else. 

Notwithstanding  this  latter  fact,  I am 
moved  as  one  of  the  living  “old  settlers” 
of  Troy  to  note  down  some  of  my  early 
recollections  of  sixty  to  sixty-five  years 
ago.  Delving  into  the  past  being  in  your 
present  line  of  thoughts,  and  bearing  in 
mind  the  many  years  of  personal  friend- 
ship that  have  marked  our  lives,  I have 
thought  this  narrative  might  not  in  some 
of  its  phases  prove  uninteresting  to  you, 
though  not  in  any  sense,  of  concern  to  the 
public. 

I was  born  at  Defiance,  Ohio,  the  point 
where  General  Anthony  Wayne,  in  1794, 
built  his  fort  as  a preliminary  to  his  ad- 
vance upon  an  overwhelming  defeat  of  the 
British  and  Indians  at  Fallen  Timbers.  My 
earliest  recollection  dates  back  when  three 
years  old  to  the  cholera  season  of  1849, 
when  after  the  epidemic  had  been  stayed, 
my  father  held  me  up  in  his  arms  on  the 
porch  of  our  house,  to  witness  the  burning 
of  the  buildings  that  had  been  used  as  a 
cholera  hospital.  In  the  Spring  of  1853, 


my  father  was  induced  to  remove  with  his 
family  to  Troy.  On  a bright  May  morn- 
ing, taking  our  lives  in  our  hands  and 
without  any  deep-seated  realization  of  the 
dangers  that  might  attend  our  journey,  we 
embarked  upon  the  muddy  and  more  or 
less  fragrant  water  of  the  Miami  and  Erie 
canal. 

Not  upon  the  ordinary  and  deliberate 
freight  boat  did  we  take  passage,  where 
the  mammal  motive  power  moved  along 
with  the  deliberation  characteristic  of  the 
case-hardened  mule,  but  upon  the  neat  and 
trim  rapid  transit  canal  Packet,  given 
solely  to  the  accommodation  and  transport 
of  passengers  and  where  the  horses  were 
stimulated  into  a continuous  trot,  encom- 
passing on  an  average,  including  the  delay 
incident  to  passing  through  the  numerous 
locks,  of  at  least  four  miles  an  hour.  These 
packets,  I think,  must  have  offered  to 
George  M.  Pullman,  the  original  sugges- 
tion for  his  modern  railway  sleeping  car, 
for  the  sleeping  berths  for  passengers 
were  arranged  along  the  side  of  the  cabin 
and  during  the  daytime  in  order  to  make 
room  for  the  dining  table  and  the  seating 
of  the  passengers,  the  sleeping  berths  were 
folded  back  against  the  wall  of  the  cabin, 
much  after  the  manner  of  the  railroad 
sleeper. 

The  details  of  the  trip  after  the  lapse  of 
sixty-five  years  are  more  or  less  vague,  but 
I remember  that  for  most  of  the  distance 
the  country  was  clothed  on  both  sides  with 
a dense  forest,  interrupted  occasionally  by 
a clearing  and  at  intervals  by  an  ambitious 
young  village  of  cheap  frame  houses, 
mostly  of  one  story.  This  condition  pre- 
vailed almost  down  to  the  territorial  limits 
of  Miami  County,  where  of  course  settle- 
ments and  developments  were  much  more 
advanced. 

When  our  “floating  palace”  approached 
any  of  the  small  villages  or  was  about  to 
encounter  one  of  the  many  locks  along  the 
route,  the  helmsman  would  pick  up  an 
elongated  tin  horn  and  send  in  winding 
blast  of  melody  echoing  through  forest  and 


454 


HISTORY  OP  MIAMI  COUNTY 


glen,  as  a notification  that  we  were  about 
to  arrive,  whereupon  every  mother’s  son 
and  daughter  of  the  community  flocked  to 
the  landing  and  every  passenger  rushed  on 
deck  to  greet  them. 

It  seems  to  me  now  as  I look  back  that 
the  trip  must  have  occupied  at  least  a week 
but  as  the  distance  from  Defiance  to  Troy 
is  only  one  hundred  miles,  not  more  than 
one  day  and  part  of  another  could  have 
been  consumed. 

I remember  that  at  some  points  along 
the  route  we  encountered  a flight  of  wild 
pigeons  in  such  numbers  as  to  almost 
darken  the  sun  and  that  the  whole  flight 
was  several  hours  in  passing. 

We  reached  Troy  late  in  the  afternoon 
and  moored  our  good  ship  at  the  Packet 
landing,  which  at  that  time  was  just  a few 
rods  below  Market  Street. 

Here  we  found  a bustling  and  interested 
crowd  of  people  awaiting  us,  and  two  four- 
horse  and  one  six-horse  omnibus  ready  to 
convey  passengers  to  any  part  of  the  city. 
Seating  ourselves  in  the  latter  vehicle,  the 
driver,  with  a stertorous  cry  and  a re- 
sounding crack  of  his  long  lashed  whip, 
started  us  on  a dizzy  whirl  through  Mar- 
ket to  Main  and  up  Main  Street  to  our  pre- 
arranged quarters  at  the  house  of  “Uncle 
David  Adams,”  which  stood  and  still 
stands  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Oxford 
Streets,  just  above  the  present  residence 
of  G.  T.  Thomas.  After  a few  days’  stay 
with  this  kindly  and  hospitable  family,  we 
secured  a house  on  Water  Street  on  the 
block  above  the  Union  School  House. 

At  this  date  the  Dayton  and  Michigan 
Railroad  had  been  finished  to  Troy  only 
about  six  weeks  and  construction  was  pro- 
ceeding toward  Piqua. 

Never  having  seen  a railroad  train,  it 
became  a first  object  of  interest  to  visit  the 
depot  and  await  the  arrival  of  the  passen- 
ger train  from  Dayton,  which  had  been 
running  on  regular  schedule  for  about  ten 
days. 

The  depot  was  then  located  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Clay  Streets,  in  the  two-story 


brick  building  still  standing  and  then  occu- 
pied by  T.  H.  Vandegrift  as  a hotel,  under 
the  name  of  the  Depot  House  and  which, 
about  a year  later,  changed  its  landlord 
and  name  to  that  of  the  Fuller  House. 

The  mingled  awe  and  wonder  with 
which  I saw  the  railroad  train  approach- 
ing, the  engine  breathing  fire  and  expelling 
smoke  and  cinders,  is  an  incident  not 
easily  forgotten.  The  train  that  day,  I 
think,  consisted  of  a combination  baggage 
mail  and  express  car  and  one  passenger 
coach,  and  was  drawn  by  a small  engine 
then  in  use  called  the  “pony.”  It  was  cus- 
tomary, however,  to  use  an  engine  of 
larger  type  on  the  daily  passenger  trains, 
the  pony  being  ordinarily  used  in  construc- 
tion work.  The  headquarters  of  the  con- 
struction laborer  on  work  between  Troy 
and  Piqua,  were  in  a series  of  small  houses 
on  Water  Street  including  the  premises 
now  occupied  by  the  Court  House  heating 
plant  and  the  office  lately  used  by  the 
Childs  Catarrh  Remedy.  These  laborers 
were  all  practically  recent  Irish  immi- 
grants, and  Sunday  their  day  of  rest,  was 
the  invariable  occasion  for  a series  of 
drunken  brawls,  in  which  the  women 
joined  with  apparently  the  same  ferocious 
enjoyment  as  the  men.  At  times  half  a 
dozen  scrimmages  were  going  on  in  the 
middle  of  the  street,  stones  and  shillelahs 
flew  thick  and  fast  and  the  yells  and  curses 
of  the  men,  together  with  the  piercing  and 
ribald  screams  of  the  women,  excited  the 
attention  and  disturbed  the  serenity  of  the 
residents  within  two  or  three  blocks. 

Among  my  early  acquaintances  with 
boys  of  about  my  age  was  Lester  Smith. 
His  father,  who  had  died  a few  months 
previously,  was  the  owner  of  a shingle  fac- 
tory on  the  canal,  a short  distance  above 
the  lock  at  the  head  of  Main  Street.  The 
factory  continued  to  be  operated  after  the 
father’s  death  by  the  two  older  sons,  Da- 
vid and  Samuel.  Though  Lester  was  too 
young  to  take  lighter  work  about  the 
premises  and  in  order  to  facilitate  his  op- 
portunities for  getting  away  to  play,  I fre- 


Surveyed  by  Andrew  Wallace  and  filed  by  him,  December,  1807.  He  was  employed  by  Robert 
Crawford,  the  first  director,  who  sold  lota  to  the  value  of  $2,800  the  first  two  years. 

Andrew  Wallace  was  the  first  treasurer  of  Miami  county;  the  first  school  teacher  of  Troy;  the 
father  of  David  Wallace,  appointed  to  West  Point  from  Troy  and  afterward  Congressman  and  Governor 
of  Indiana,  and  the  grandfather  of  Lew  Wallace,  whose  autograph  letter  appears  in  thi>s  work. 


THE  FIRST  PLAT  OF  TROY 


THE  SECOND  PLAT  OF  TROY 


The  second  plat  had  extended  the  town  to  the  north  and  west  as  elsewhere  described  and  to  the 
south  and  east,  from  Clay  to  Union  streets.  The  left  hand  line  runs  due  south  from  Canal  and  Monroe 
to  Market  and  West.  The  right  hand  line  is  a due  west  line  from  Canal  and  Union  to  West  and 
Market  streets.  From  this  latter  wedge  point,  the  streets  run  with  the  Cardinal  points  while  north  of 
it  the  oldest  inhabitant  is  compelled  to  box  the  compass  to  find  them. 


THE  HOME  OF  J.  C.  FULLERTON,  JR. 

Born  in  Greenup  county,  Kentucky,  December  8th,  1879.  Moved  to  Troy,  Ohio,  with  his  parents  in 
December,  1885,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  Son  of  J.  C.  and  Luella  B.  Fullerton. 

Educated  in  the  Troy  public  schools  and  University  of  Michigan.  Graduated  from  the  Troy  High 
School  in  1899.  Grduated  from  the  University  of  Michigan  with  an  A.  B.  degree  in  1903.  Also  attended 
the  law  school  of  the  University  of  Michigan  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  state  of  Ohio  in  1905, 
and  to  the  practice  in  the  Federal  Courts  in  1914. 

On  June  6th,  1906,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Nelle  M.  McKnight.  They  have  one  child,  Eleanor. 
Worships  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Troy,  Ohio.  A Mason  and  a member  of  the  J.  O.  U.  A.  M. 


THE  HOME  OF  FRANK  C.  ROBERTS 

On  Mulberry  Street,  between  Main  and  Franklin,  Troy,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Christiansburg,  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  on  October  25,  1861, 
and  lived  with  his  father  and  mother,  George  W.  and  Darantha  Roberts,  until  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  came  to  Troy,  and  for  a period  of  six  years  clerked  in  the  dry  goods  store  of  Dillaway,  Thompson 
& Perry,  after  receiving  an  education  in  the  public  schools. 

Three  years  after  coming  to  Troy,  on  February  18,  1886,  he  married  May  E.  Shilling,  daughter  of  Jesse 
Shilling,  whose  portrait  and  sketch  appear  on  another  page. 

His  father,  George  W.  Roberts,  was  one  of  the  strong  Union  men  of  his  neighborhood.  There  were 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  organized  at  Christiansburg,  who,  to  anger  the  Union  men  wore  butternuts 
suspended  by  a string  to  their  coat  buttons.  One  evening  George  Helvie  snatched  one  of  these  butternuts 
from  the  coat  of  a neighbor  boy,  also  named  George,  which  precipitated  a fight  in  which  at  one  time  thirty 
to  forty  men  were  engaged  at  which  I was  present  and  a participant.  In  the  height  of  the  melee,  George 
Roberts  came  on  the  scene,  just  from  his  bed  with  one  suspender  down  and  in  his  sox  feet.  I can  yet  see 
him  as  he  seized  a burly  Irishman  on  top  of  one  of  our  men  and  actually  hurled  him  across  the  street, 
being  a man  of  immense  strength  and  indomnitable  courage. 

In  that  day  George  W.  Roberts,  Manoah  Howell,  George  McCulough,  of  Christiansburg,  and  my 
father,  Samuel  W.  Sterre  t,  were  the  Union  leaders  of  all  that  section  of  southwest  Champaign,  northeast 
Clark  and  western  Miami  Counties.  I cannot  but  contrast,  the  division  in  those  steam  days,  with  the  al- 
most universal  fealty  to  the  present  war. 

Frank  C.  Roberts,  entered  the  undertaking  business,  with  his  brother-in-law,  after  leaving  the  dry 
goods  business  which  they  carried  on  successfully  for  a quarter  of  a century.  He  now  personally  con- 
ducts the  business. 

Mr.  Roberts  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  is  a member  of  the 
First  Methodist  Church,  and  an  official  therein,  and  is  a member  of  the  Troy  Club,  of  which  he  is  pres- 
ident. in  this  year  of  1018.  He  is  ever  a genial  companion,  a courteous  gentleman  and  a substantial 
€riend. 


CITY  OF  TROY 


459 


quently  aided  him  in  his  work  of  counting 
and  baling  the  shingles.  These  shingles 
were  of  poplar.  The  raw  material  was 
brought  to  the  factory — if  my  memory  is 
correct — in  round  blocks,  sawed  from  the 
trunk  of  the  tree  in  proper  lengths.  At 
the  factory,  I think,  the  blocks  were  split, 
into  two  to  four  parts,  according  to  the 
diameter  of  the  block,  then  thrown  into  a 
a large  steam  vat  where  they  were  soft- 
ened by  steaming  a certain  length  of  time, 
then  taken  out  and  subjected  to  a slicing 
process  by  keen  upright  steel  blade,  which 
transformed  them  into  full-fledged  shin- 
gles, after  which  they  were  put  into  bales 
of  the  size  commonly  used  in  those  days. 

Among  the  residents  at  this  time  in  the 
upper  part  of  town  was  an  old  soldier  of 
the  war  of  1812,  by  name  of  John  R.  Bold. 
He  lived  with  a daughter  who  supported 
him  by  her  earnings  at  dressmaking.  He 
was  in  a more  or  less  feeble  state  of  health, 
due  as  was  commonly  said  to  his  extreme 
age  and  we  boys  looked  upon  him  with  an 
idea  that  he  was  a sort  of  second  Methuse- 
lah. The  old  gentleman,  becoming  seized 
with  an  idea  that  he  ought  to  do  something 
to  enlarge  the  family  income,  like  Dickens’ 
character  of  Silas  Wegg,  dropped  into  po- 
etry. He  composed  a number  of  rhyming 
verses,  had  them  printed  and  canvassed 
the  town  for  their  sale  at  three  cents  per 
copy. 

I remember  the  first  verse  ran  as  fol- 
lows : 

My  name  it  is  John  Rising  Bolt 
And  I have  lived  through  heat  and  colt 
Till  I am  sixty-five  years  old. 

When  I think  that  at  the  present  mo- 
ment, I am  nearly  eight  years  older  than 
this  scion  of  antiquity,  I wonder  what  the 
children  of  the  present  day  think  of  me  as 
a relic.” 

The  dam  across  the  river  at  the  upper 
end  of  town  formed  the  universal  “swim- 
ming hole”  in  those  days  for  both  boys  and 
men.  It  was  separated  from  the  inhabited 
part  of  the  town  by  a broad  vacant  tract 


or  common,  so  that  the  swimmers  being 
out  of  sight,  were  in  nowise  objetcionable 
features  of  the  landscape.  Summer  days, 
and  especially  summer  evenings,  the  water 
was  filled  with  a swarm  of  shouting  and 
laughing  humanity,  who  found  surcease  of 
suffering  from  the  heat  and  discomforts 
of  the  day.  The  boys  of  that  day  were  no 
less  inclined  than  those  of  the  present,  to 
indulge  in  pranks  at  the  expense  of  their 
comrades.  A common  amusement  was  for 
one  boy  who  had  come  out  of  the  water  and 
dressed,  to  get  some  other  boy’s  shirt,  soak 
the  sleeves  in  water  and  then  tie  them  in 
as  hard  a knot  as  his  strength  would  per- 
mit. An  hour  would  sometimes  be  spent 
by  the  unlucky  lad  in  relieving  himself  of 
this  dilemma.  On  one  occasion  I was  sub- 
jected to  this  treatment  and  the  job  was 
so  thoroughly  and  scientifically  done  that 
I spent  much  time  and  utterly  lost  my  tem- 
per in  the  effort  to  untangle  the  garment. 

I felt  in  a revengeful  mood  and  by  close 
inquiry  ascertained  that  one  Dave  Louthan 
was  the  guilty  party.  So  I laid  for  Dave. 
A few  days  later  he  was  one  of  the  patrons 
of  the  swimming  hole,  and  I awaited  my 
opportunity.  I had  caught  a small  soft- 
shell  snapping  turtle  about  two-thirds  the 
size  of  one’s  hand  and  had  irritated  it  by 
tapping  it  across  the  nose  with  a small 
stick,  so  that  it  would  grab  at  the  stick 
whenever  it  came  within  reach.  I watched 
Dave  when  he  came  out  of  the  water  and 
was  about  to  dress,  slipped  up  behind  him 
and  thrust  the  turtle  within  reach  of  his 
finger  and  the  “critter”  with  promptness 
and  dispatch  clamped  it  between  its  vise- 
like jaws.  With  an  Indian  war-whoop, 
Dave  grabbed  the  turtle  and  tried  to  pull 
him  loose,  but  the  more  he  pulled  the 
tighter  the  testudian  varmint  set  his  vise. 
Suddenly,  with  a panic-stricken  cry,  Dave 
started  for  home  without  thought  of 
clothes  or  anything  else  but  relief  from  his 
misery,  and  with  all  the  physical  beauty 
and  fleetness  of  foot  guaranteed  him  by 
nature,  he  sped  down  the  full  lenght  of 
Water  Street  to  his  home  below  the  rail- 


460 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


road,  vocalizing  his  distress  at  every  step. 
It  was  at  least  a week  before  Dave  took 
the  rag  off  his  sore  finger. 

Speaking  of  swimming,  there  lived  a 
few  doors  above  us  on  Water  Street,  a man 
named  Hawkins.  He  had  a daughter  of 
about  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  age, 
bright,  good-looking  and  as  full  of  fun  and 
mischief  as  an  egg  is  of  meat.  She  was 
fond  of  all  sorts  of  outdoor  sports,  loved 
to  go  hunting  and  fishing  with  the  boys, 
and  was  a good  shot  with  a small  rifle  she 
carried.  But  her  greatest  and  favorite  ac- 
complishment was  swimming.  Nancy  or 
“Nan”  as  she  was  familiarly  aclled,  had  a 
natty  bathing  suit,  and  almost  every  even- 
ing in  summer  she  could  be  found  disport- 
ing herself  in  the  river  back  of  her  father’s 
house.  Her  greatest  forte  was  diving.  I 
have  seen  many  crack  swimmers,  both 
male  and  female,  but  I have  never  seen  any 
that  impressed  me  so  much  with  their  abil- 
ity to  dive  and  remain  under  water  such 
a length  of  time  as  Nan  Hawkins. 

But  perhaps  I am  like  the  man  who 
went  +o  hear  Jenny  Lind  sing  in  1850,  and 
she  being  the  first  great  singer  he  had 
ever  ^eard,  he  was  so  impressed  that  al- 
though he  lived  fifty  years  after  and  had 
the  opportunity  of  listening  to  Patti,  Nil- 
son  and  other  world-noted  songsters,  none 
of  them  in  his  judgment  compared  with 
Jenny  Lind. 

Tn  the  case  of  Nan  Hawkins,  she  was 
the  first  female  swimmer  I ever  knew  and 
her  performances  in  that  line  were  so  un- 
usual and  wonderful  for  a woman,  that 
they  may  have  left  an  exaggerated  impres- 
sion on  my  youthful  mind. 

Speaking  of  out-door  sports,  it  seems 
to  me  that  our  winters  were  at  that  time 
more  steady  and  uninterrupted  by  sudden 
weather  variations  than  has  been  the  case 
m recent  years.  It  was  not  unusual  to 
experience  four  to  six  weeks  of  skating 
and  sleighing  without  interruption  of  seri- 
ous thaws.  The  river  and  canal  would  be 
thronged  by  hundreds  of  both  adult  and 
juvenile  skaters,  indulging  in  all  sorts  of 


competitive  sports  and  games,  among 
which  the  most  invigorating  and  enticing 
was  the  game  of  “shinny,”’  in  the  heated 
contest  of  which  many  a lad  unexpectedly 
sat  down  with  a jolt  that  developed  as 
many  stars  in  the  ice  underneath  him,  as 
he  saw  in  the  heavens  above  him.  We  had 
some  very  swift  as  well  as  some  very 
graceful  skaters.  Among  the  latter  the 
most  noted  was  Benjamin  Shilling,  a 
younger  brother  of  Jesse  Shilling.  Ben 
would  take  a few  yards’  start,  suddenly 
whirl  and  cut  a symmetrical  figure  eight, 
following  with  a Spencerian  outline  of  his 
own  signature  and  wind  up  with  a well 
proportioned  figure  of  an  American  eagle 
with  outstretched  wings.  The  king  of  the 
rapid  skaters  was  Watts  Jones,  a colored 
man,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  Ran- 
dolph manumitted  slaves,  who  in  company 
with  his  brothers,  lived  in  a series  of  small 
frame  houses  across  the  race,  just  below 
the  Plum  Street  bridge.  I hardly  dare  to 
state  just  how  rapidly  Watts  could  get 
over  the  ice,  but  it  seemed  to  me  that  he 
could  have  given  the  “Blue-Tailed  Fly,”  a 
noted  race  horse,  in  those  days,  a goodly 
start  and  then  beat  the  latter’s  time  in  a 
one,  two  or  five-mile  contest.  Watts  fre- 
quently would  skate  to  Dayton  and  back 
the  same  afternoon. 

While  I am  on  the  subject  of  races,  I am 
reminded  of  a contest  concerning  which 
I still  hold  an  unforgettable  sense  of  per- 
sonal wrong.  It  occurred  at  a time  when 
the  County  fair  grounds  were  located  on 
the  McLung  farm,  opposite  the  present 
water  works  power  house.  There  was  a 
good  half-mile  race  tract.  One  day,  during 
the  fair,  Jim  Hensley  and  I were  munch- 
ing peanuts  in  front  of  Eb.  Pearson’s  con- 
fectionery stand,  when  a bland  and  suave 
gentleman  of  mature  years  approached  us 
and  suggested  that  we  run  a race  around 
the  tract,  to  the  winner  of  which  he  would 
contribute  a dime.  Jim  was  a couple  of 
years  older  and  at  that  time  considerably 
taller  than  I,  but  we  accepted  the  gentle- 
man’s banter  with  true  sportsmanlike 


CITY  OF  TROY 


461 


spirit  and  moved  around  that  tract  with 
all  the  celerity  that  our  youthful  legs 
could  command.  I won  the  race  by  a few 
yards  and  received  the  promised  dime, 
whereupon  Jim  burst  into  tears  and  sobs 
of  disappointment,  when  to  console  him 
the  tender-hearted  promoter  of  the  con- 
test gave  him  a quarter  to  assuage  his 
grief.  Many  years  afterward  during  the 
progress  of  the  Civil  War,  Jim  and  I were 
together  on  our  way  down  the  Mississippi 
to  join  our  respective  vessels,  and  in  the 
course  of  our  conversation  I asked  him  if 
he  remembered  the  episode.  In  reply  he 
said,  “Say,  that  is  one  of  the  disagreeable 
incidents  of  my  early  life  that  I have 
struggled  in  vain  to  forget,  and  if  you  will 
promise  never  to  allude  to  it  again,  when 
we  get  to  Memphis,  I will  ‘set  up’  the  best 
dinner  we  can  get  at  the  Gayoso  House 
and  wash  it  down  with  a bottle  of  cham- 
pagne.” 

The  dinner  was  excellent  and  the  “fizz 
water”  was  Mumm’s  Extra  Dry. 

In  the  summer  of  1853,  Van  Amburgh’s 
menagerie  made  its  first  visit  to  Troy.  Its 
proposed  exhibition  had  been  heralded  for 
weeks  by  lurid  posters,  showing  fierce 
lions  and  tigers  of  the  jungle  contending 
in  mortal  combat  over  the  carcass  of  a 
wild  antelope ; giraffes  calmly  munching 
their  evening  meal  from  the  tender  foliage 
of  the  tallest  trees,  and  “the  wild  gazelles 
with  their  silvery  feet”  gracefully  scam- 
pering across  illimitable  plains,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  mighty  elephants,  the  two- 
humped camel  and  the  double  horned  Su- 
matran rhinoceros. 

No  wonder  the  boys  were  in  a fever  of 
expectant  excitement  and  their  nights 
troubled  with  dreams  of  fierce  encounters 
with  savage  beasts.  At  that  period  of  our 
history  it  was  thought  by  truly  pious  par- 
ents that  the  circus  was  an  immoral  show 
and  many  of  them  would  not  permit  their 
children  to  attend  such  exhibits,  but  while 
it  was  true  that  Van  Amburg  had  a circus 
attachment,  it  was  a minor  feature  of  the 
show  and  the  animal  exhibit,  constituting 


a great  object  lesson  in  natural  history, 
was  considered  by  almost  every  one  to  be 
worthy  of  patronage.  When  the  day  came 
a large  contingent  of  we  boys  eagerly 
walked  down  the  Dayton  pike  for  two  or 
three  miles  to  meet  the  procession  and  es- 
ocrt  it  to  town.  Some  of  the  boys  were 
fortunate  enough  to  establish  favorable  re- 
lations with  the  boss  in  charge  of  feeding 
the  animals,  and  for  the  service  of  carry- 
ing a few  buckets  of  water,  were  provided 
with  tickets  to  the  show. 

But  I might  go  on  ad  infinitum  with 
these  trifling  incidents  of  personal  history 
to  your  utter  weariness  of  soul  and  I shall 
not  prolong  the  misery,  except  to  revert 
to  a few  persons  and  incidents  with  which 
I had  no  individual  connection. 

In  the  Spring  of  1855  occurred  one  of 
the  most  noted  of  crimes  in  the  history  of 
Miami  County.  A Mrs.  Riggan  was  ar- 
rested in  Piqua  charged  with  the  poisoning 
of  her  husband,  and  J.  D.  Maury  was  ar- 
rested as  an  “accessory  before  the  facts.” 
A preliminary  examination  was  held  be- 
fore a justice  of  the  peace  in  Piqua  and 
Mrs.  Riggan  being  by  the  advice  of  her 
counsel,  a voluntary  witness,  testified  that 
J.  D.  Maury  had  for  eighteen  months  been 
urging  her  to  poison  her  husband  in  order 
that  he  might  marry  her.  She  admitted 
she  had  written  a letter  to  Maury  urging 
him  to  do  the  deed  himself  by  putting  ar- 
senic in  Riggans’  oysters.  A copy  of  this 
letter  was  produced  and  acknowledged  by 
Mrs.  Riggan  to  be  a true  copy  of  her  letter. 
She  also  testified,  that  becoming  tired  of 
waiting  for  Maury,  she  purchased  the  first 
arsenic  in  Tippecanoe  and  administered  it 
herself.  From  this  dose  the  doctor  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  his  life.  She  then,  through 
a neighbor  in  Piqua,  procured  a second 
installment  of  arsenic  and  administered 
two  doses  before  she  succeeded  in  killing 
her  husband.  She  was  remanded  to  jail 
by  the  Justice’s  court  and  five  months 
later  gave  birth  to  a daughter  while  await- 
ing trial.  The  following  January  (1856) 
she  was  brought  to  trial.  The  attorneys 


462 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


for  the  prosecution  were  M.  H.  Jones,  as- 
sisted by  E.  Parsons,  and  for  the  defense 
John  A.  Corwin,  James  H.  Hart  and  S.  S. 
McKinney.  It  seems  that  at  the  prelimi- 
nary examination  an  agreement  had  been 
entered  into  between  Prosecutor  Jones  and 
defendant’s  attorney,  McKinney,  that  any 
testimony  given  by  Mrs.  Riggan  before  the 
Justice  should  not  be  used  to  her  detriment 
at  the  trial,  except  of  a circumstantial 
character  ,the  court  ruling  that  under  the 
agreement  of  counsel  the  record  of  the  pre- 
liminary examination  could  not  be  admit- 
ted, and  so  after  most  eloquent  and  pa- 
thetic pleas  by  Corwin  and  Hart  in  which 
the  jail-born  baby  figured  conspicuously, 
the  jury  after  a short  consultation,  ac- 
quitted her.  She  was  quite  a handsome 
young  woman  22  years  old,  a member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  her  neighbors  testified  had  been  con- 
sidered to  be  a person  of  mild,  kind  and 
amiable  disposition  and  much  esteemed  by 
those  who  knew  her  personally.  After  her 
acquittal  she  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
she  married  again,  and  according  to  a 
rumor  several  years  later  she  poisoned  No. 
2,  though  as  to  the  truth  of  the  rumor,  I 
cannot  vouch. 

For  many  years,  dating  back  into  the 
early  forties,  Troy  had  maintained  a crack 
militia  company,  known  as  the  Lafayette 
Blues.  But  interest  in  military  affairs  had 
lagged  until  the  early  fifties  the  company 
had  practically  become  dormant.  How- 
ever. a revival  took  place  in  1855,  and  the 
company  was  reorganized  with  a member- 
ship of  about  fifty,  H.  S.  Mayo  was  chosen 
Captain,  and  Joseph  Pearson,  S.  J.  Hens- 
ley. John  C.  Drury  and  John  N.  Culbertson 
were  lieutenants. 

About  the  same  time  a company  of 
young  men  was  formed  known  as  the  Tro- 
ian Rangers,  of  which  E.  Hanson  Mayo 
was  Captain  and  John  W.  Morris.  First 
Lieutenant.  These  companies,  including 
the  Trojan  Artillery,  were  drilling  fre- 
quently on  the  Public  Square,  in  prepara- 
tion for  the  military  encampment  at  Day- 


ton on  the  10th  of  September.  During 
one  of  these  drills,  a dispute  arose  about 
the  ownership  of  a tenor  drum,  the  Blues 
claiming  that  the  one  in  use  that  day  by 
the  Rangers  belonged  to  them,  which  was 
vigorously  denied  by  the  Rangers.  A man 
by  the  name  of  Vandegrift,  belonging  to 
the  Blues,  attempted  to  forcibly  seize  the 
drum,  when  a scrimmage  ensued,  and  John 
Morris  painfully  wounded  Vandegrift  in 
the  hand  with  his  sword.  This  incident 
was  the  cause  of  much  excitement  and  ill- 
feeling  between  the  two  companies  and 
their  respective  sympathizers. 

The  Troy  Union  School  opened  its  first 
session  in  the  new  school  house  on  the  5th 
of  September,  1853.  This  school  house 
was  a square,  three-story  brick  building, 
and  covered  the  same  site  as  that  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Edwards  building.  Wm.  N. 
Edwards  was  the  Principal  and  Miss  Mary 
Kelly  whom  he  afterward  married  and 
who  for  nearly  half  a century  has  been  a 
missionary  in  South  Africa,  was  one  of 
the  teachers.  Mr.  Edwards  was  a man  of 
liberal  and  technical  education,  a first- 
class  executive  and  a thorough  disciplin- 
arian. In  the  first  year  of  his  service  he 
was  inclined  to  considerable  severity  of 
discipline,  and  with  his  great  wall-eyes 
and  an  austerity  of  countenance  that  he 
could  assume,  became  the  terror  of  all  the 
small  boys  of  mischievous  inclination. 
Time,  however,  seemed  to  have  a mellow- 
ing effect  upon  his  disposition,  and  in  his 
later  years,  instead  of  being  an  object  of 
fear  he  came  to  be  the  object  of  universal 
love  in  the  eyes  of  his  pupils. 

In  this  same  notable  year  of  1853,  there 
was  begun  the  erection  of  what  Troy  sadly 
needed,  a good  hotel.  The  Morris  House, 
as  it  came  to  be  called,  was  finished  in  the 
Spring  of  1854  at  a cost  of  $30,000  and 
was  leased  to  S.  C.  Hawkins  as  the  first 
landlord. 

The  formal  opening  took  place  on  Mon- 
day, the  19th  of  June  and  the  4th  of  July 
following  was  made  the  occasion  for  a 
great  demonstration.  The  grand  soiree 


CITY  OF  TROY 


463 


and  ball  was  extensively  advertised  and 
invited  guests  were  present  from  Cincin- 
nati, Columbus,  Dayton,  Springfield  and 
Xenia,  with  a few  from  Piqua.  The  pauc- 
ity of  attendance  from  the  latter  place  was 
due  to  the  bitterness  of  feeling — then  at  a 
maximum  height — concerning  the  County 
Seat  question,  a bill  having  a few  weeks 
previously,  at  Piqua’s  suggestion,  been  in- 
troduced in  the  Legislature,  to  submit  the 
question  of  its  removal  from  Troy  to  Piqua 
— to  a vote  of  the  people. 

Politics  in  the  fifties  was  at  fever  heat. 
The  various  phases  of  the  conflict  between 
freedom  and  slavery,  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill,  the  doctrine  of  popular  sovereignty, 
the  fugitive  slave  law,  etc.,  were  the  sub- 
jects, pro  and  con  of  the  most  bitter  and 
unrestrained  discussion.  It  was  during 
this  period — memory  fails  to  establish  the 
exact  date — when  there  came  to  Troy  to 
discuss  the  issue  of  the  day,  the  man  who 
above  all  others  has  remained  in  my  mem- 
ory as  the  most  eloquent,  the  most  humor- 
ous and  the  most  effective  public  speaker 
I ever  heard.  It  was  Tom  Corwin,  famil- 
iarly known  as  the  “wagon  boy”  of  the 
Harrison  Indian  campaign  of  1812.  He 
spoke  at  the  fair  grounds  to  an  immense 
concourse  of  people.  He  was  of  medium 
height,  heavy-set,  with  a complexion  as 
dark  as  a mulatto.  He  had  a marvelous 
voice,  capable  of  inflection  and  expressive 
of  every  emotion.  To  grasp  the  full  meas- 
ure of  his  eloquent  expression,  it  was  es- 
sential to  have  a full  view  of  his  facile 
countenance.  With  a look  he  would  cause 
a laugh  or  a tear.  His  speeches  were  il- 
luminated with  pertinent  and  felicitous  an- 
ecdotes that  gave  interpretation  to  the  text 
and  carried  his  audience  to  the  highest 
flights  of  enthusiasm  and  approval.  Take 
him,  all  in  all,  we  shall  never  look  upon 
his  like  again. 

Among  the  chief  industries  in  Troy  in 
1858,  and  1854,  were  the  Miami  Foundry, 
at  the  head  of  Main  Street,  a short  dis- 
tance this  side  of  the  present  water- works, 
established  and  operated  by  the  Shilling 


Brothers;  the  Troy  Flax  Factory,  con- 
trolled by  the  Sessions  Brothers  and  lo- 
cated at  the  head  of  Water  Street,  near 
the  dam ; the  Wilmington  Plow  Works,  on 
the  bank  of  the  canal  just  below  the  Main 
Street  bridge;  the  planing  imll,  operated 
by  T.  H.  Vandergrift,  a few  rods  below 
the  plow  works;  the  large  cooper  shop  of 
Cruikshank  Brothers,  on  the  canal,  a block 
below  the  planing  mill,  where  kegs,  bar- 
rels, casks  and  tubs  were  turned  out  in 
great  quantity,  their  raw  material  of 
staves  and  hoop-poles  being  brought  down 
on  the  canal  from  the  great  forests  of  the 
Black  Swamp  region,  between  Defiance 
and  St.  Marys,  the  grain  and  storage  ware- 
houses of  Wagner  and  Dye,  Daniel  Gros- 
venor,  S.  P.  Hensley,  and  Jos.  Warner,  all 
strung  along  the  bank  of  the  canal,  be- 
tween Plum  and  Mulberry  Streets,  and  the 
mill  and  distillery  of  Dye  & Culbertson, 
located  on  what  is  known  as  Dye’s  Pond, 
at  the  terminus  of  the  mill  race. 

Among  the  well-known  citizens  of  that 
day  was  Dr.  Asa  Coleman,  who  lived  on 
the  corner  of  Market  and  Franklin  Streets 
in  the  house  built  by  him,  afterwards  en- 
larged and  owned  by  W.  H.  H.  Dye.  Dr. 
Coleman  came  to  Troy  in  1811  when  the 
town  was  only  four  years  old  and  was  at 
different  times  President  of  the  County 
Agricultural  Society,  Representative  in 
the  Legislature,  President  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  and  Associate  Judge. 

Dr.  J.  G.  Telford,  who  lived  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Mulberry  Streets,  in  a 
two-story  frame  house,  which  I think  is 
still  standing,  and  who  held  numerous  pub- 
lic positions  including  those  of  County 
Treasurer  and  County  Clerk. 

William  Brown,  commonly  known  as 
“Uncle  Billy,”  who  was  the  second  Treas- 
urer of  Miami  County,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  from  1811  to  1842,  and  who  lived 
at  Water  and  Clay  Streets,  where  he  died 
in  1866,  at  the  age  of  82,  having  lived  in 
the  same  house  for  nearly  sixty  years. 

“Uncle  Henry  Orbison  lived  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Oxford  just  above  the 


464 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


present  residence  of  Mrs.  Mary  Hayner. 
Uncle  Henry’s  hair  was  as  white  as  the 
driven  snow,  his  complexion  very  florid, 
and  for  one  of  his  age  was  exceedingly  ac- 
tive and  busy. 

He  was  a volporteur,  insistently  can- 
vassing town  and  country  in  the  sale  and 
distribution  of  Bibles  and  other  religious 
literature. 

Incidentally  he  was  a vigorous  propon- 
ent of  temperance  and  would  argue  the 
question  by  the  hour  with  any  one  who 
would  listen  to  him.  It  used  to  be  said  of 
him  in  his  canvassing  tours  that  without 
ixoparent  design  it  was  his  very  frequent 
^ood  luck  to  drop  in  on  his  patrons  about 
Vuner  time  and  accept  the  matter-of- 
course  invitation  to  stay  to  dinner. 

William  Barbee  lived  on  the  corner  of 
Market  and  Water  Streets  in  the  house 
later  owned  by  the  late  Mrs.  Lutie  Coombs. 
In  the  early  fifties  he  removed  to  Lafay- 
ette, Ind.,  where  he  died  in  1858.  He  was 
one  of  Troy’s  oldest  and  most  prominent 
citizens  and  became  quite  wealthy.  He 
moved  to  Miami  County  with  his  father  in 
1804,  lived  in  a log  cabin  for  several  years 
and  worked  for  his  neighbors  twelve  hours 
a day  for  fifty  cents.  He  was  a soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  was  three  times  elected 
to  the  Legislature,  declined  a nomination 
to  Congress,  became  an  Associate  Judge 
of  the  Common  Pleas  Court  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Ohio  Constitutional  Con- 
vention in  1850. 

I have  a suspicion  that  the  boys  of  the 
early  fifties  were  not  so  well  seasoned  in 
respect  for  the  nearby  farmers’  apple  or- 
chards as  are  the  good  boys  of  the  present 
day.  So  far  as  I know,  the  temptation  of- 
fered by  a tree  full  of  Maiden  Blush  ap- 
ples, was  during  the  leisurely  roamings  in- 
cident to  the  summer  vacation,  too  strong 
to  be  resisted  by  very  many  of  my  youth- 
ful companions.  About  a half  mile  above 
town  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river  was  a 
large  grove  known  as  the  “dam  woods.’’ 
Just  to  the  east  of  this  grove  a red-headed 
and  quick-tempered  farmer  named  Love 


had  a very  tempting  orchard.  The  boys 
made  the  “dam  woods”  a base  for  the  fre- 
quent incursions  into  the  orchard.  To  put 
a stop  to  this,  Love  possessed  himself  of 
a particularly  savage  bulldog  and  gave 
the  animal  full  run  of  the  orchard.  Many 
were  the  expedients  resorted  to  by  the  boys 
in  diverting  the  dog’s  interest  and  atten- 
tion to  one  end  of  the  orchard  while  an- 
other contingent  of  them  climbed  the  fence 
and  assaulted  some  of  the  trees  at  the 
other  end.  In  this  way  a good  many  nar- 
row escapes  from  dog-bite  were  had.  It 
did  not  occur  to  them,  however,  so  far  as 
I know,  to  try  Sidney  Smith’s  experiment 
when  he  was  a boy.  Some  of  the  larger 
boys  made  him  believe  that  if  he  would  get 
down  on  his  hands  and  knees  and  go  back- 
wards toward  the  dog,  the  dog  would  be- 
come frightened  and  run  and  he  could  then 
secure  the  apples.  He  tried  the  experi- 
ment without  success,  resulting  as  he  says 
in  reaching  the  conclusion  that  it  makes 
no  difference  to  a bulldog  which  end  of  a 
boy  he  gets  hold  of,  if  he  only  gets  a good 
hold. 

But  I might,  like  Tennyson’s  brook,  run 
on  forever  in  the  relation  of  these  local  in- 
cidents, to  your  personal  weariness  and 
discomfort,  and  so  I will  spare  you  fur- 
ther infliction.  If  you  survive  its  perusal, 
write  and  tell  me  what  restoratives  you 
used.  Sincerely  yours, 

C.  C.  R. 

The  five  miles  square  of  agricultural 
country  around  Troy,  as  before  stated, 
would  support  a town  population  of  4000 
people.  The  remaining  3000  are  now  sup- 
ported by  our  manufacturing  industries. 
The  establishment  of  such  industries  as 
The  Hobart  Electric  Company,  the  Wind- 
shield Company,  the  Automobile  Body 
Works,  the  Hobart  Brothers’  Dynamo  and 
Generator  Works,  the  Troy  Foundry  and 
others  of  smaller  output,  was  made  profit- 
ably possible  by  the  building  of  the  present 
east  and  west  Big  Four  Railroad  in  1883, 
for  which  the  citizens  of  Troy  subscribed 
and  paid  a bonus  of  $81,000,  of  which  S.  K. 


CITY  OF  TROY 


465 


Harter,  H.  W.  Allen  and  W.  H.  Dye  sub- 
scribed $5000  each  and  the  two  former 
paid  their  subscriptions  in  full.  H.  W. 
Allen  was  the  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee  that  performed  this  work,  and 
the  author  of  this  work  was  the  secretary. 
I was  also  the  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  rights  of  way  and  procured  most  all  in 
Miami  County  and  some  in  Darke  and 
Clark  Counties.  These  purchases  were  all 
reported  to  C.  W.  Fairbanks,  the  general 
solicitor  of  the  road,  afterward  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

Many  years  afterward,  when  I supposed 
I had  been  forgotten  by  him,  I was  intro- 
duced to  him  on  account  of  my  Grand 
Army  title,  as  General  Sterrett.  He  smil- 
ingly grasped  my  hand,  and  looking  down 
from  his  height  of  6 feet  4,  said : “When 
did  you  get  to  be  a General,  Frank?”  to 
which  I promptly  replied,  “You  could 
make  it  actual,  Mr.  President,  if  you  tried, 
but,  as  in  the  Roosevelt  case,  which  I have 
heretofore  related,  nothing  came  of  my 
suggestion,  in  which  I was  in  no  wise  dis- 
appointed. I sometimes  think  that  the 
present  generation  do  not  fully  appreciate 
the  amount  of  gratuitious  work  and  money 
donated  to  prepare  for  our  present  pros- 
perity, and  yet  when  I note  the  splendid 
efforts  of  the  citizens  of  Miami  County  of 
the  present  day  in  Red  Cross  work  and  all 
other  efforts  in  support  of  the  Government 
for  our  success  in  the  war  against  Ger- 
many, it  is  gratifying  to  believe  that  each 
generation  is  meeing  the  actual  demand  of 
its  day  and  while  we  may  be  growing 
weaker,  we  are  growing  wiser  and  better. 

Some  Dyes  and  Carvers 

John  Minor  Dye  was  of  French 
Huguenot  stock,  born  in  Greene  county, 
Pa.,  on  August  24,  1773.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Clyne,  who  was  born  October 
18,  1775.  They  moved  to  Miami  county 
in  1810. 

John  C.  Dye,  the  son  of  John  Minor 
and  Elizabeth,  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Pa.,  on  October  10,  1807.  He  lived  with 


his  parents  until  manhood  and  married 
Eliza  Green  on  May  20,  1829,  and  settled 
in  Section  28,  Elizabeth  township,  where 
he  farmed  160  acres  of  fertile  land  and 
where  10  children  were  born  to  this  union. 
He  was  a Justice  of  the  Peace  for  nine 
years  and  acted  a prominent  part  in  the 
formative  period  of  the  county  and  was 
finally  laid  to  rest  in  Casstown  cemetery 
on  August  20,  1896,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  89  years. 

Elizabeth  Dye,  a daughter  of  John  C. 
and  Eliza  Dye,  was  born  on  the  home  farm 
in  Elizabeth  township,  on  April  28,  1846, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
at  the  Toledo  High  school.  She  was  mar- 
ried to  William  Allen  Carver  on  October 
10,  1867.  Mr.  Carver’s  grandfather  was 
bom  in  1756  and  came  to  America  in  1780, 
settling  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  where 
his  son,  Michael,  was  born  in  1782,  who 
followed  the  Knoops  to  Miami  county,  ar- 
riving here  in  1799.  He  soon  afterward 
married  Anna  Lenon  who  had  come  with 
the  Knoop  people  to  Hamilton  county 
three  years  earlier.  He  entered  land  in 
Section  21  of  Elizabeth  township,  where 
Michael  III  was  born  on  November  11, 
1811.  In  1836  he  married  Sarah  Davis, 
from  which  union  the  youngest  son  but 
one,  William  Allen,  was  born  on  March  30, 
1846. 

From  the  union  of  William  Allen  Carver 
and  Elizabeth  Dye  was  born  three  chil- 
dren: Edith,  on  June  29,  1868;  Harry 
Benson,  April  1,  1873,  and  Mabel,  January 
6,  1880. 

Edith  Carver  married  Joseph  H.  Carr 
on  June  29,  1887,  from  which  union  were 
born  three  children:  Hazel  Edith  Carr, 
April  1,  1888;  Charlotte  Elizabeth,  May 
3,  1890,  and  Marguerite  Jane,  on  January 
5,  1892.  Hazel  Edith  Carr  married  Gay- 
lord C.  Cummins,  on  May  1,  1912,  from 
which  union  two  children,  Robert  Irwin 
and  Edith,  were  born.  Charlotte  Eliza- 
beth Carr  was  graduated  at  Vassar  Col- 
lege and  is  now  doing  social  service  work 
in  New  York  City.  Marguerite  Jane  Carr 
was  married  to  Henry  M.  Merry,  on  Jan- 


466 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


uary  6,  1916,  and  has  one  child,  Charlotte 
Louise,  born  at  Idaho  Springs,  Colorado, 
December  5,  1916. 

Harry  Benson  Carver,  the  only  son  of 
William  Allen  Carver  and  Elizabeth  Dye, 
was  born  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  on 
April  1,  1873.  He  married  Maude  Weller 
on  May  18,  1904,  and  from  this  union  two 
children  were  born:  Richard,  on  January 
4,  1906,  and  Howard,  on  September  5, 
1908. 

JAMES  EYER  SHELLENBERGER 

Born  March  2,  1846,  at  Covington,  Ohio;  Died 
February  4,  1907,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Major  James  E.  Shellenberger  enlisted 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  August  22, 
1862,  joined  the  94th  0.  V.  I.,  was  as- 
signed to  duty  as  musician  in  Company  B, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Marietta,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro  and  Raleigh. 
He  was  mustered  out  June  5,  1865,  and 
began  the  study  of  medicine,  graduating 
at  Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia,  in  1869. 
He  followed  his  profession  at  his  old 
home,  Covington,  O.,  for  several  years 
and  later  located  at  Piqua,  O.,  where  he 
was  active  in  his  life’s  work  until  war  was 
declared  against  Spain,  when  he  again 
tendered  his  services  to  the  Government, 
was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  3d  O.  V.  I., 
and  was  with  his  command  at  Tampa, 
Fernandina  and  Huntsville,  occupying  the 
position  of  Chief  Surgeon,  2d  Brigade,  3d 
Division,  4th  Corps.  Mustered  out  No- 
vember 22,  1898. 

In  July,  1899,  he  was  appointed  Sur- 
geon, with  the  rank  of  Major,  by  President 
McKinley,  assigned  to  the  34th  Infantry, 
and  was  on  duty  in  Northern  Luzon, 
Philippine  Islands  until  mustered  out 
April  17,  1901. 

We  again  find  him  with  the  army  as 
Contract  Surgeon  in  Department  of  Texas 
from  April  24,  1902,  until  his  death,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1907,  thus  rounding  out  a life  of 


patriotism  and  honor  in  the  broadest  sense 
that  the  terms  imply. 

His  parents  Jacob  E.  Shellenberger  and 
Jane  M.  Shellenberger,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  early  Thirties 
moved  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Covington. 

Our  Companion  was  married  in  1875  to 
Miss  Emma  Chaffee,  and  to  this  union  one 
child  was  born,  a daughter,  now  the  wife 
of  Charles  K.  Coit  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

The  high  appreciation  of  his  character 
as  a man  is  expressed  by  the  following 
resolution  by  Alexander  Mitchell  Post 
G.  A.  R. 

“By  the  death  of  Comrade  J.  E.  Shellen- 
berger, Alexander  Mitchell  Post  has  sus- 
tained a great  loss.  He  was  among  the 
first  to  orgenize  it,  faithful  to  work  in  its 
interests  and  a zealous  leader  in  every 
camp  fire  and  parade. 

“He  was  a soldier  in  manner,  in  spirit 
and  in  grace.  He  was  a true,  dignified 
gentleman,  uniform  in  his  courtesies,  of 
sterling,  genuine  character,  and  in  this 
sense  a model  for  us  all  in  the  Christian 
virtues. 

“We  shall  always  miss  him  and  think  of 
him  with  great  kindness. 

“Hail  comrade,  and  friend,  and  fare- 
well.” 

Jacob  W.  Gano, 
George  W.  Ward, 
Stephen  C.  Ayers, 
Committee. 

It  was  my  pleasure  and  honor  to  know 
Major  Shellenberger  for  more  than  forty 
years  and  I can  therefore  personally  at- 
test to  the  resolution  of  his  comrades  and 
pay  my  tribute  to  the  many  gracious  qual- 
ities of  his  character. 


THE  COVERED  BRIDGE  OVER  PANTHER  CREEK 


DEETERS  MILL  ON  PAINTER  CREEK 


DAVID  HENNESSEY 

David  Hennessey,  the  original  of  the  above  portrait,  was  born  in  Ireland  on  July  15,  1830  and  came 
to  America  as  a young  man  and  married  Johanna  F.  Flynn  in  1852,  from  which  union  were  born  William, 
on  April  2,  1854;  David,  October  15,  1856;  James,  August  29,  1859;  John,  December  22,  1862;  Timothy, 
September  13,  1865;  Richard  P.,  March  9,  1868;  Edward  J.,  June  3,  1870,  and  Thomas,  January  28,  1873. 

James  M.,  with  Edward  J.,  are  of  the  contracting  firm  of  Hennessey  Bros.,  the  former  living  in 
Piqua,  with  his  interesting  family,  and  the  latter  in  Troy.  Richard  P.  is  the  present  public  service 
director  of  Troy.  David,  the  second  son,  has  been  for  many  years  connected  with  the  Miami  Gas  Co., 
and  his  son,  David  J.,  conducts  the  cigar  business  in  the  Hatfield  house  on  East  Main  street. 

The  father  owned  and  conducted  a farm  in  Lost  Creek  township,  Miami  county  and  was  an  honored 
and  upright  citizen.  He  belonged  to  that  rugged  type  of  the  second  generation  of  pioneers,  the  strength 
of  whose  faces  are  now  seldom  seen. 

Mr.  Hennessey  and  his  entire  family  were  and  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  Troy 
Hennesseys  are  able  supporters  of  that  prince  of  priests,  Anthony  J.  Mentink,  who  furnished  the  : ketch 
for  this  work  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


CHARLES  THEODORE  ZIEGENFELDER 


The  subject  of  this  picture  and  sketch  was  the  son  of  John  George  Ziegenfelder  and  Kathryn  Buehn,  born 
January  24,  1849,  in  Troy,  Miami  county,  Ohio.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Troy 
and  entered  the  clothing  business  with  Phil  J.  Gates,  his  brother-in-law  as  a partner  under  the  firm  name 
of  P.  J.  Gates  & Co.,  long  known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  merchant  tailors  and  clothing  firms  in 
western  Ohio. 

Charles  married  Miss  Alice  Zischler  on  October  9,  1878.  He  was  a member  of  the  St.  John’s  Evangelical 
church  of  Troy,  and  occupied  a high  position  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow  citizens  for  probity  and  in- 
dustry. It  is  doubtful  if  any  man  in  his  community  led  a more  peaceful,  serene  and  blameless  life.  He 
was  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery,  his  death  occurring  on  September  21,  1903.  Hic  widow  gurvtves-Jiim, 
living  in  the  home,  118  South  Market  street,  in  which  their  happy  married  life  had  been  spent,  waiting  for 
the  reunion  in  the  great  beyond.  On  Jan.  5,  since  the  above  was  written,  Alice,  the  wife,  joined  her 
husband. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

CITY  OF  PIQUA 


Gob  Gard,  who  had  been  a sutler  in  the 
army  of  “Mad  Anthony  Wayne,”  in  his 
successful  campaign  against  the  Indians  in 
Northwestern  Ohio  in  1794,  probably  re- 
mained in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort  at  Green- 
ville up  to  the  treaty  of  August  3,  1795, 
which  opened  up  Miami  County  to  peace- 
ful settlement  for  the  first  time,  and  came 
across  to  Piqua,  a distance  of  25  miles  and 
settled  at  the  abandoned  fort  at  Upper 
Piqua  in  the  Spring  of  1797,  where  he 
lived  for  a period  of  a few  months,  when 
he  selected  such  material  as  suited  his  pur- 
pose from  the  structure,  floated  it  down 
the  river  and  used  it  in  the  construction 
of  a house  near  the  corner  of  Water  and 
Harrison  Streets,  just  north  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  bridge  across  the  Miami 
River,  before  it  changes  its  western  course 
to  a southern  one. 

Soon  after  Gard  came  ,and  in  the  same 
year,  John  Hilliard  and  his  two  sons, 
Charles  and  Joseph,  Job  Garrard,  Shad- 
rach  Hudson,  Jonathan  Rollins,  Daniel 
Cox,  Thomas  Rich,  and  a man  named  Hun- 
ter came  here  from  North  Bend,  where 
John  Cleves  Symmes  had  founded  a city 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River 
that  was  to  become  the  metropolis  of  his 
2,000,000  acre  purchase,  between  the  Big 
and  Little  Miami  Rivers,  in  1786.  These 
first  settlers  first  located  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river,  on  land  described  to  them  by 
Symmes,  and  found  not  to  belong  to  the 
latter,  and  hence  they  moved  across  the 
river  and  relocated  on  lands  just  south  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  bridge  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Huntersville. 

In  1799,  Gard  sold  his  rights  to  John 
Manning,  where,  five  years  afterward,  he 

471 


constructed  the  first  flouring  mill  in  Miami 
County.  If  it  were  not  for  the  statement 
of  Manning,  handed  down,  the  part  played 
by  Gard  in  the  early  history  of  Piqua 
would  be  lost,  as  nothing  further  is  known 
of  him. 

On  May  22,  1800,  Chas.  Manning  was 
born,  near  the  site  of  this  mill,  the  first 
white  child  in  Piqua,  two  years  after  John 
Knoop,  the  first  white  child  in  Miami 
County  was  born  at  Staunton,  in  the  old 
“Dutch  Station.” 

When  Miami  County  was  organized  in 
1807,  there  lived  along  the  old  General 
Clark  trail,  within  the  present  limits  of 
Piqua,  now  known  as  Main  Street,  the 
families  of  John  Manning,  Edward  Man- 
ning, Benjamin  Leavell,  Alexander  Ewing, 
Armstrong  Brandon,  NathanielWhitcomb, 
Casper  Hendershott  and  Joseph  Porgette, 
which,  combined  with  the  families  in  Hun- 
tersville, made  a total  population  of  about 
sixty  souls.  While  the  county  seat  was 
located  at  Troy  on  July  31,  1807,  the  plat 
for  same  was  not  completed  until  Decem- 
ber 16,  1807,  whereas  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington was  platted  on  August  27,  1807. 
The  eastern  boundary  of  the  town  of 
Washington  was  at  the  present  junction 
of  Water  and  Harrison  Streets,  near 
where  the  Manning  mill  stood  and  was 
numbered  lot  No.  1 and  the  western  bound- 
ary line  was  the  present  Downing  Street, 
four  blocks  wide.  The  northern  boundary 
line  was  Green  Street,  and  the  southern 
Union  Street,  five  long  blocks  containing 
101  lots,  52  acres  in  all,  with  about  thirty 
souls  comprising  its  population  at  that 
time.  Since  that  time,  the  town,  in  1816, 
changed  its  name  to  Piqua,  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature,  and  has  added  to  its  pos- 


472 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


sessions,  81  additions,  increasing  in  popu- 
lation until  now  in  1918,  it  numbers  15,000 
— one-third  of  the  population  of  the  entire 
County. 

In  1823,  Piqua  was  incorporated.  In 
1826  it  had  a population  of  248.  Piqua 
has  contributed  some  eminent  names  to 
the  State  and  country,  the  most  eminent  of 
which  was  John  Johnston,  who  lived  many 
years  at  Upper  Piqua  and  acted  as  Indian 
agent  for  the  northwest.  G.  Volney  Dor- 
sey was  a State  Senator  in  1849  and  the 
Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1861,  and 
re-elected  in  1863.  Major  Stephen  John- 
ston, a saddler  by  trade,  drew  the  charter 
for  the  Columbus,  Piqua  and  Indiana  Rail- 
road Company,  now  a part  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania System.  He  was  elected  and  served 
as  Sheriff  of  Miami  County,  was  an  elector 
on  the  Lincoln  ticket  in  1864,  and  a candi- 
date for  Governor  of  Ohio  on  the  Green- 
back ticket  in  1877.  The  Hon.  John  F.  Mc- 
Kinney was  elected  to  Congress  in  1863, 
and  re-elected  in  1870.  The  prominent 
events  that  had  most  to  do  with  creating 
Piqua  the  metropolis  of  Miami  County  was 
the  Indian  agency  of  Col.  John  Johnston; 
the  location  of  the  land  office  there  in  1819, 
the  completion  of  the  Miami  and  Erie  ca- 
nal to  that  point  in  1837,  where  it  re- 
mained the  terminus  for  several  years  and 
became  the  distributive  point  for  the  terri- 
tory north,  northwest  and  northeast.  It 
was  the  “border  town”  in  the  war  of  1812, 
the  “border  village”  in  1837,  and  the  “bor- 
der city”  in  1850.  The  Dayton  and  Michi- 
gan and  the  P.,  C.,  C.  & St.  L.  Railroads 
were  both  finished  through  Piqua  in  1856, 
giving  them  railroad  connections  with  the 
four  cardinal  points. 

The  hydraulic  company  was  organized 
in  1868.  The  free  school  law  of  1850  gave 
Piqua  graded  schools  in  1854.  The  first 
church  was  built  in  1816 ; the  first  mayor, 
Wm.  Barrington,  in  1826;  the  first  news- 
paper, “The  Gazette,”  in  1821 ; the  fire  de- 
partment was  organized  in  1836,  which 
continued  through  the  various  grades  be- 
tween ladders  and  buckets  to  the  most 


modern  methods  known.  On  May  18,  1868, 
the  police  board  of  Piqua  was  organized. 
The  first  bridge  in  Piqua  was  erected  in 
1820,  between  Piqua  and  Huntersville.  The 
Jerusalem  and  Japan  railroad  was  par- 
tially graded  between  Piqua  and  West  Mil- 
ton  in  1851,  and  some  of  the  grade,  near 
West  Milton,  is  yet  to  be  seen. 

In  1889  the  city  street  railroad  was  in- 
augurated and  was  extended  to  Troy  in 
1892.  The  Dayton,  Covington  and  Piqua 
electric  traction  line,  into  Piqua  in  1903, 
to  be  followed  soon  afterward  by  the  West- 
ern Ohio,  which  furnished  the  citizens 
with  this  modern  convenience  to  all  points 
of  the  compass,  except  the  east.  Arm- 
strong Brandon,  the  first  County  Surveyor 
was  also  the  first  postmaster  of  Piqua.  In 
1843  the  town  hall  was  contracted  to  be 
erected.  The  old  market  house,  built  in 
1850,  was  torn  down  in  1882.  The  soldiers’ 
monument  in  Forest  Cemetery,  was  un- 
veiled on  Decoration  Day,  1884. 

In  1890,  the  stone  jail  at  the  rear  of  the 
fire  department  on  Wayne  Street  was 
erected  at  a cost  of  $1650.  In  1891  the 
Plaza  Hotel  was  erected  with  W.  P.  Orr 
and  Sam  K.  Statler  as  owners.  In  1837 
the  Union  Troop  of  Cavalry  was  organ- 
ized. In  1838,  the  Piqua  Blues,  and  the 
Piqua  Guards  in  1850.  In  1876,  Company 
F,  of  the  Third  Regiment,  O.  N.  G.,  was 
organized.  In  1891,  Company  E of  the 
same  regiment  which  went  forward  in  the 
Spanish-American  war  of  1898. 

Piqua  furnished  828  men  for  the  Civil 
War  out  of  3200  for  the  County.  She  had 
a company  of  104  men  in  each  of  the  fol- 
lowing regiments:  First,  Ninety-fourth 

and  One  Hundred  and  Tenth,  two  in  the 
Eleventh  Ohio  Infantry;  one  company  in 
the  Eighth  O.  V.  C.,  with  parts  of  com- 
panies in  the  Twelfth  O.  V.  C.  and  Twen- 
tieth and  Fiftieth  Infantry.  While  nam- 
ing the  distinguished  citizens  of  Piqua,  I 
should  have  remembered  “Billy”  Manning, 
the  greatest  early  minstrel  of  the  United 
States,  if,  indeed,  he  has  been  surpassed 
by  any  of  the  moderns.  He  was  a grand- 


CITY  OF  PIQUA 


473 


son  of  the  Manning  who  built  the  mill  on 
Water  and  Harrison  Streets.  Since  statis- 
ticians inform  us  that  more  money  is  ex- 
pended for  amusement  than  on  bread,  it 
would  seem  to  argue  that  this  character 
of  mental  sustenance  was  just  as  essential 
as  the  physical  feeding  of  the  body,  which, 
if  true,  made  Billy  Manning  one  of  the 
great  men  of  his  day.  Manning  died  in 
Chicago,  May  5,  1876,  in  the  37th  year  of 
his  age,  after  inspiring  more  men,  women 
and  children  into  boisterous  laughter  than 
any  other  man  of  his  age,  and  therefore 
filled  an  honorable  and  necessary  function 
in  the  dispensation  of  earthly  things. 

When  General  Harrison  came  up  the 
valley  in  1811,  over  the  old  Clark  trail  of 
1882,  until  he  reached  the  ford  (Coes) 
where  Eldean  is  now  located,  he  continued 
on  the  east  side,  instead  of  crossing  there 
as  Clark  had,  who  came  up  the  west  bank 
from  that  point;  and  crossed  the  Miami 
at  the  ford  near  the  Manning  mill,  and 
it  was  this  fact  that  caused  the  street  op- 
posite this  ford  to  be  called  Harrison 
Street.  General  Harrison  invested  in  Mi- 
ami County  lands,  purchasing  the  east  half 
and  northwest  quarter  of  Section  21,  in 
Staunton  Township. 

In  1821  this  land  was  advertised  for  de- 
linquent taxes  in  the  amount  of  $27.70. 
The  General  very  likely  saw  this  land,  as 
he  passed  through  Staunton  Township  in 
1811  on  his  way  to  Tippecanoe,  six  miles 
north  of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  to  fight  the 
Prophet,  Tecumseh’s  brother,  preceding 
the  declaration  of  war  in  1812  by  Presi- 
dent Madison.  He  entered  the  land  in  1816. 
The  taxes  were  paid  and  the  General  sold 
the  southeast  quarter  to  Henry  Orbison  on 
August  28,  1818,  and  the  northwest  quar- 
ter to  John  Gilmore  on  the  same  date.  He 
sold  the  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  to 
E.  Willard  on  September  21,  1826  and  the 
Auditor  of  Miami  County  sold  the  other 
half  for  taxes  on  December  16,  1828.  Since 
the  General  had  sold  the  two  quarters  for 
$3  per  acre,  the  80  acres  sold  for  taxes 
should  have  brought  $240,  but  for  some 


reason  unknown  he  sacrificed  this  amount. 
The  quarter  disposed  of  to  Orbison,  it  was 
afterward  discovered,  did  not  bear  the 
signature  of  his  wife  (nee  Anna  Symmes) 
whose  father  at  one  time  owned  all  the 
land  between  the  Great  and  Little  Miami 
Rivers,  for  which  he  agreed  in  1876  to 
pay  the  Government  60  cents  per  acre. 
Henry  Orbison  rode  on  horseback  to  North 
Bend  and  procured  the  signature  of  Mrs. 
Harrison  to  clear  the  cloud  on  his  title  cre- 
ated by  the  neglect  of  General  Harrison. 
Those  of  us  who  have  had  occasion  to  con- 
demn ourselves  for  business  remissness 
may  take  some  consolation  in  the  fact  that 
the  ninth  President  of  the  United  States 
was  not  free  from  the  same  fault. 

The  telegraph  system  came  to  Piqua 
from  Troy  in  1850,  and  the  telephone  com- 
pany in  1880. 

The  blue  limestone  of  Piqua  is  of  most 
excellent  quality,  some  of  which  rings  like 
metal  when  struck  with  a hammer. 

The  first  woolen  mill  in  Piqua  was  built 
by  Young  and  Yager  in  1848,  followed  by 
O’Ferrall,  Daniels  & Co.,  F.  Grey  & Co., 
and  the  Orr  Felt  and  Blanket  Company 
of  the  present  day. 

The  first  linseed  oil  mill  was  on  Spring 
Street,  washed  away  in  the  flood  of  June, 
1835,  to  be  followed  by  others  in  1855, 
1865,  1870,  1880  and  in  1892. 

The  first  distillery  in  Piqua  was  built 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  in  Huntersville  by 
Charles  Manning.  In  1807  he  sold  it  to 
Plenry  Orbison,  who  joined  Harrison’s 
Army  in  1812.  It  was  at  this  time  that 
Harrison  selected  his  land  in  Section  21  of 
Staunton  Township,  and  when  he  became 
acquainted  with  Orbison,  to  whom  he  sold 
the  southeast  quarter  of  that  section,  six- 
teen years  afterward. 

The  saw  mills  of  that  day  were  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  the  early  settlers 
and  the  first  was  established  in  Piqua  in 
1815  to  be  followed  by  many  others,  not 
only  in  Piqua,  but  every  few  miles  on  each 
of  the  fourteen  principal  streams  of  the 


474 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


county  heretofore  described  in  our  drain- 
age system. 

After  the  moccasin  came  the  leather  pe- 
riod for  foot  covering,  and  then  tanneries 
became  a necessity  and  one  was  established 
by  Joseph  Montgomery  on  Main  Street  in 
1809,  and  followed  by  many  others,  all  to 
be  abandoned  when  factory  shoes  became 
cheaper  than  home-made  ones. 

On  the  hillside  of  the  Charles  Hilliard 
farm  was  located  the  first  graveyard  of 
the  early  settlers,  and  about  the  same  time 
a Manning  burial  place  near  their  home 
on  Water  and  Harrison  Streets  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  numerous  others  until  the  Forest 
Hill  Cemetery  of  94*/^  acres  was  estab- 
lished by  the  city.  The  Catholic  Cemetery 
was  located  at  Boone  and  Walker  Streets 
until  the  present  St.  Joseph  Cemetery  was 
established  in  1873.  The  Jewish  Cemetery 
is  located  east  of  Piqua  on  the  Urbana 
pike. 

The  following  residents  served  as  State 
Senators  at  various  dates,  from  1824  to 
1896:  Robert  Young,  James  Johnston, 

John  O’Ferrall,  James  M.  Hart,  Rankin 
Walkup,  W.  H.  Lander,  J.  M.  Carson,  Jen- 
nison  Hall  and  McPherson  Brown.  In 
1852,  the  new  constitution  fixed  Darke, 
Miami  and  Shelby  Counties  as  the  Twelfth 
Senatorial  District  with  a safe  Democratic 
majority  of  1200,  this  being  the  average 
majority  for  30  years  until  1882,  when  to 
the  surprise  of  most  men,  the  record  was 
broken,  and  Jennison  Hall,  an  out-and-out 
Republican,  was  elected  by  258  majority. 
I was  chairman  of  the  County,  Senatorial 
and  Congressional  Committees  that  year 
and  planned  the  campaign.  The  predeces- 
sor of  Hall,  Senator  Moore,  of  Greenville, 
had  voted  for  the  conversion  of  the  sur- 
plus dog  tax  for  the  improvement  of  the 
grandstand  at  Darke  County  fair  grouds, 
Greenville,  which  had  been  built  by  a pri- 
vate company  in  which  Moore  held  stock. 
He  had  also  voted  for  a bill  prescribing 
building  and  loan  companies  regulations 
that  was  unpopular  with  those  companies 
and  their  patrons.  To  defeat  Moore  these 


two  facts  must  be  carefully  disseminated 
throughout  the  district  which  would  re- 
quire some  traveling  expenses  and  litera- 
ture. I went  to  Columbus  and  asked  Chas. 
Foster,  then  Governor,  to  assist  in  financ- 
ing our  political  scheme,  who  was  a pros- 
pectice  candidate  for  United  States  Sen- 
ator. He  expressed  little  faith  in  our  am- 
bition, but  subscribed  and  handed  me  his 
check  for  $200.  Coming  back  through 
Springfield  I procured  a check  for  $100 
from  my  friend  General  J.  Warren  Kiefer, 
and  with  other  subscriptions  obtained  a 
fund  something  over  $500.  The  late  Leo- 
pold Kiefer,  although  a Democrat,  took 
charge  of  northern  Darke  County  where 
he  purchased  the  tobacco  grown  by  his 
German  and  French  friends,  the  three 
counties  were  quietly  but  carefully  can- 
vassed, with  no  thought  of  success,  except 
upon  the  part  of  a few  who  knew  the  in- 
side facts.  I arrived  in  Columbus  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  day  succeeding  the 
election  and  appeared  at  the  door  of  the 
Governor’s  room,  with  the  unexpected 
semi-official  returns  of  the  district,  where 
the  Governor  and  a crowd  of  political 
friends  were  receiving  the  news.  Upon 
my  entrance,  he  grasped  my  hand  and 
laughingly  introduced  me  as  the  “dog-tax 
politician.”  This  was  frequently,  after- 
ward, called  the  “dog  tax  campaign”  when 
we  overturned  a precedent  of  30  years’ 
standing,  again  repeated  by  a Piqua  man, 
McPherson  Brown,  a Republican,  in  1894, 
and  again  by  A.  R.  Garver,  a Tippecanoe 
manufacturer,  in  1914. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  Feb.  19,  1918. 

F.  M.  Sterrett,  Esq.,  Troy  Ohio. 

Dear  Mr.  Sterrett — Your  letter  of  the 
10th  would  have  been  answered  sooner, 
but  for  the  fact  that  it  entailed  some  re- 
search work  at  the  Library  of  Congress. 
I learned  of  a volume  known  as  the  Bio- 
graphical Congressional  Directory,  1774- 
1911,  and  find  the  following  biographical 
sketch  of  John  Franklin  McKinney : 

John  Franklin  McKinney,  a Represen- 


CITY  OF  PIQUA 


47S 


tative  from  Ohio;  born  near  Piqua,  Ohio, 
April  12,  1827 ; completed  preparatory 
studies;  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  commenced  practice  in  Piqua  in 
1851 ; elected  as  a Democrat  to  the  Thirty- 
Eighth  Congress  (March  4,  1863-March 
3,  1865)  ; unsuccessful  candidate  for  re- 
election  to  the  Thirty-Ninth  Congress ; re- 
elected to  the  Forty-Second  Congress 
(March  4,  1871-March  3,  1873)  ; died  near 
Piqua,  Ohio,  June  13,  1903. 

The  following  is  said  of  Murray : 

Robert  M.  Murray,  a Representative 
from  Ohio;  born  in  Concord,  Lake  County, 
Ohio,  November  28,  1841;  attended  the 
schools  of  Willoughby,  Lake  County,  Ohio, 
and  Oberlin,  Ohio;  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar;  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  in  Painesville,  Ohio ; moved 
to  Piqua,  Ohio,  in  1879 ; Mayor  of  Paines- 
ville, Ohio,  from  April,  1877  to  1879;  was 
elected  as  a Democrat  to  the  Forty-Eighth 
Congress  (March  4,  1883-March  3,  1885). 

As  for  the  McLane  you  mention,  the  box- 
score  indicates  that  you  have  mixed  up 
your  McLeans.  There  was  a William  Mc- 
Lean, who  represented  the  Piqua  district 
in  the  twenties.  You  have  evidently  con- 
fused him  with  John  McLean,  an  Ohio 
Congressman  who  served  from  the  Leba- 
non district  during  the  War  of  1812.  It 
was  the  latter,  not  the  former,  who  subse- 
quently became  State  Supreme  Court 
Judge  in  1816,  Postmaster  General  in 
1823,  and  a Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States  from  1829  until  his 
death. 

I can  readily  understand  how  the  con- 
fusion might  have  arisen.  Both  men  rep- 
resented Western  Ohio  districts  within  a 
decade  of  one  another.  Both  were  natives 
of  Morris  County,  New  Jersey.  John  Mc- 
Lean went  on  the  Supreme  bench  at  Wash- 
ington the  same  year  William  McLean  left 
Congress.  It  would  not  be  strange  if  fur- 
ther confusion  had  arisen  because  of  the 
fact  that  only  a few  years  later  another 
man  of  the  same  name  represented  an 


Ohio  district,  one  Jeremiah  McLene.  But 
as  a matter  of  fact,  the  Supreme  Court 
Justice  was  the  John  McLean  of  Lebanon 
and  not  the  William  McLean  of  Piqua. 

The  following  sketch  appears  regarding 
William  McLean: 

William  McLean,  a Representative  from 
Ohio ; born  in  Morris  County,  N.  J. ; at- 
tended the  public  schools ; moved  to  Ohio ; 
appointed  receiver  of  public  moneys  in 
Piqua,  Ohio;  elected  to  the  Eighteenth, 
Nineteenth  and  Twentieth  Congresses, 
(March  4,  1823-March  3,  1829)  ; died  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  October  12,  1839. 

I hope  that  this  data,  meager  though  it 
may  be  will  serve  your  purpose.  If  at  any 
time  I can  be  of  aid  to  you,  kindly  feel 
yourself  at  liberty  to  call  on  me. 

Sincerely  yours, 

B.  F.  Welty. 

Piqua  is  noted  as  being  the  center  of  the 
knitting  and  underwear  industries,  the 
output  from  which  reaches  all  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  even  into  foreign  countries. 

The  more  prominent  factories  of  Piqua 
are  the  Favorite  Stove  Works,  the  Pioneer 
Pole  and  Shaft  Company,  the  Piqua  Han- 
dle Company,  Cincinnati  Corrugating  Co., 
Rolling  Mill,  the  Wood  Shovel  and  Tool 
Co.,  Piqua  School  Furniture  Co.,  French 
Oil  Mill  Machine  Co.,  the  Fillebrown  Shop, 
the  H.  Sternberger  Mattress  Factory  and 
the  King  Manufacturing  Co. 

PIQUA— 50  Years  Ago. 

By  M.  H.  Jones 
Written  Feb.  22,  1890 

“We  speak  of  many  a vanished  scene. 

Of  what  we  once  had  thought  and  said, 

Of  what  had  been  and  might  have  been 
And  who  has  changed  and  who  was  dead.” 

Alas,  0.  Posthumous,  the  years  glide 
swiftly  by.  So  sang  Horace  to  his  friend 
among  the  glories  of  the  Roman  Empire, 
and  so  it  seems  to  the  writer  when  he 
reflects  that  it  is  fifty  years  ago  in  the 
coming  September  when  he,  from  the  top 


476 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


of  Hilliard's  hill,  at  the  east  end  of 
Huntersville,  first  beheld  the  fair  town  of 
Piqua.  It  then  contained  probably  from 
1,500  to  1,800  people,  was  a very  clean  and 
handsome  town,  full  of  life  and  vigor,  and 
commanded  a large  trade  from  the  north 
and  west.  The  canal  had  been  completed 
some  three  or  four  years  to  the  state  dam, 
three  miles  north,  and  Piqua  was  the 
headquarters  of  all  the  canal  interests 
between  here  and  its  northern  extension. 
Here  were  gathered  canal  commissioners, 
engineers  and  contractors.  Here  were 
estimates  made  and  paid  to  the  con- 
tractors, and  here  was  the  money  mostly 
spent,  and  spent  freely.  We  recollect  one 
contractor,  whose  name  now  escapes  us, 
who  carried  his  money  in  a tall  plug  hat 
and  went  around  town  paying  it  out  as 
long  as  it  lasted. 

The  work  at  Lockington  was  very  heavy 
and  expensive,  and  a large  force  was  con- 
stantly there  employed.  And  very  lively 
chaps  some  of  them  were.  We  recollect 
well  the  Duffin  boys,  Felix  and  Randall, 
and  bold  Irish  lads  they  were,  who  after- 
ward covered  themselves  with  glory  in 
our  famous  “Broadford  War.” 

Piqua  then,  except  by  a very  few  houses, 
extended  only  to  Downing  street  on  the 
west,  and  one  square  below  the  railroad 
on  the  south,  with  two  or  three  houses 
south  on  Main  street  between  that  and 
Simpson’s  tannery — now  T.  J.  Wiley’s. 
Main  street  was  the  principal  street,  with 
but  few  houses  on  it  now  which  stood 
there  fifty  years  ago.  From  Greene  street 
south,  all  the  present  houses  have  been 
built,  except  the  residences  of  Mrs.  Jos. 
Young  and  Mr.  G.  W.  Young,  Ashton’s 
store  and  the  three  stores  adjoining  it  on 
the  south,  the  Holtzerman  block,  and  the 
house  on  the  opposite  side.  All  other 
present  houses  have  taken  the  place  of 
small  frame  buildings  then  standing. 

Greene  street  M.  E.  church  is  the  only 
church  building  but  what  has  been  erected 
since  fifty  years  ago.  This  congregation, 
previous  to  that  time,  worshipped  in  a 
small  brick  building  over  the  canal  on 


Spring  street,  about  where  the  knitting 
works  now  stand,  the  present  building 
having  been  erected  in  1836.  There  we 
heard  the  earnest  pleading  of  Rev. 
Solomon  Howard,  or  of  that  other  noble 
specimen  of  manhood,  Rev.  William  Raper, 
and  occasional  blasts  from  Rev.  Jas.  B. 
Finley.  The  Episcopal  church,  a smah 
brick,  was  also  over  the  canal,  on  the 
corner  of  North  and  Spring  streets,  east 
of  the  Foreman  block.  It  had  for  its 
pastor  Rev.  Mr.  Guion,  a very  worthy  and 
devoted  man,  long  since  dead.  The 
Seceder,  now  United  Presbyterian,  stood 
on  the  lot  on  Sycamore  street,  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Malt  House,  where  we  fre- 
quently went  to  hear  Rev.  Mr.  Claybaugh, 
who  often  preached  there.  He  was  an 
exceedingly  earnest,  logical  and  eloquent 
preacher.  He  also  rests  from  his  labors. 

Tamplin’s  tavern,  a two-story  frame 
building  situated  just  north  of  the  present 
Bassett  House,  was  kept  by  John  Tamplin, 
who  commenced  building  the  Bassett 
House  in  1840  and  finished  it  in  1841, 
when  it  was  kept  by  him  and  Patrick 
Scully.  It  formerly  had  a basement,  and 
the  hotel  was  reached  by  a flight  of  stone 
steps.  It  has  since  been  remodeled. 

The  next  hotel  was  the  “Exchange,” 
the  two-story  frame  over  the  canal  on 
Ash  street,  where  it  still  stands  just  east 
of  the  stone  bridge.  This  was  the  liveliest 
spot  in  town.  Here  was  the  packet  land- 
ing, and  on  the  old  wooden  bridge  that 
stood  where  the  arch  bridge  now  stands 
would  gather  pretty  much  the  whole  town 
to  see  the  packet  from  Cincinnati  and  all 
points  south  land  its  passengers.  Its  ar- 
rival was  announced  by  the  ringing  of  a 
bell  located  on  the  top  of  the  tavern  sign 
post.  This  was  a great  event  in  the  town. 
The  packet  was  a favorite  way  of  travel 
to  and  from  Cincinnati  and  was  noted  for 
the  excellence  of  its  table.  It  was  a little 
slow,  but  so  was  the  stage  coach  driven  by 
Jack  Green,  the  veteran  driver. 

There  was  no  railroad  then,  nor  tele- 
graph, nor  a mile  of  turnpike  in  the  coun- 
try. We  recollect  standing  on  this  bridge 


CITY  OF  PIQUA 


477 


and  seeing  a company  of  soldiers  of  the 
regular  army  from  Ft.  Gratiot,  in  Michi- 
gan, pass  down  the  canal  to  join  the  troops 
of  Gen.  Taylor,  in  the  Mexican  war  and 
also  saw  the  company  raised  here  for  the 
same  war  by  Gordon  F.  Mott,  leave  for 
their  destination,  from  the  same  place. 
And  we  saw  the  next  year  a solitary 
soldier  from  Mexico  land  on  his  return 
from  the  war  at  the  same  old  bridge,  with 
a chapparel  stick,  cut  from  the  battle  field 
of  Palo  Alto,  which  is  now  in  my  posses- 
sion as  a walking  cane.  This  veteran 
soldier  was  Capt.  F.  A.  Hardy. 

The  square  on  Wayne  street  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Davis,  Johnston,  O’Ferrall, 
Orr  and  Wood  residences  was  then  vacant, 
except  a house  on  the  northeast  corner 
owned  and  occupied  by  Jas.  Scudder.  In 
wet  seasons  it  was  covered  with  water, 
but  at  other  times  was  used  by  show 
people  for  their  circus  and  show  grounds, 
and  sometimes  for  political  pole-raisings. 
From  a point  about  half  a square  west  of 
the  Zollinger  residence  on  Broadway  to 
near  Wood’s  oil  mill,  the  ground  in  wet 
seasons  was  covered  with  water  from  one 
to  three  feet  deep. 

No  houses  of  any  kind  were  on  it.  As 
late  as  the  time  the  high  school  was  built, 
about  1855,  the  late  Matthew  Caldwell 
offered  to  sell  to  the  school  board  the  en- 
tire square  in  front  of  the  school  house, 
to  be  used  as  a park,  for  $800.  The  ground 
west  of  the  school  house  and  up  the  hill 
where  the  Hydraulic  now  is  was  swamp, 
and  was  good  hunting  ground  for  squir- 
rels and  pigeons,  and  we  have  shot  many 
pigeons,  and  we  have  shot  many  of  them 
of  them  on  these  grounds.  The  Hydraulic 
has  completely  drained  all  these  lands  and 
made  them  valuable. 

Matthew  Caldwell’s  farm  house,  a small 
fiame,  stood  on  the  northeast  comer  of 
the  present  Ash  and  Caldwell  streets,  and 
he  owned  pretty  much  all  west  of  it.  The 
farm  bam  of  his  brother,  Samuel  Caldwell, 
stood  about  where  Leonard  Parker’s  and 
John  McClure’s  houses  now  stand  and  all 
north  of  that  and  west  for  a considerable 


distance  was  vacant  and  open  commons 
where  the  military  companies  trained  in 
all  their  glory,  and  occasionally  a show 
would  pitch  its  tents.  North  of  Camp 
street  and  between  that  and  Broadway 
was  a beautiful  sugar  grove  where  po- 
litical meetings  were  occasionally  held. 

In  1842  there  was  held  in  this  grove  a 
great  and  notable  political  discussion  be- 
tween Robert  C.  Schenck  of  Dayton,  and 
Wm.  I.  Thomas  of  Troy,  on  behalf  of  the 
Whigs,  and  John  Brough  in  behalf  of  the 
Democrats,  all  of  whom  after  the  discus- 
sion was  over,  in  appearance  greatly  re- 
sembled the  famous  Kilkenny  cats.  Just 
north  of  this  grove,  at  the  north  end  of 
Broadway,  was  the  large  farm  house  of 
Hugh  Scott,  Esq.,  father  of  the  late  Wil- 
liam and  James  Scott,  and  of  Hugh  Scott, 
who  owned  the  lands  around  there  for 
quite  a distance.  This  part  of  the  country 
was  exceedingly  handsome. 

In  1849,  William  Johnston  and  Capt. 
T.  J.  Lawton  organized  a large  party, 
probably  one  hundred,  and  went  over  the 
plains  to  the  then  newly  discovered  gold 
fields  of  California.  When  far  out  on  the 
plains  these  two,  one  afternoon,  rode  in 
advance  of  the  train  to  seek  grass  and 
water  for  their  cattle  and  a camping  place 
for  the  night.  While  looking  for  a suit- 
able place  they  saw  at  a distance  two  per- 
sons on  horseback  approaching  them  who 
they  soon  ascertained  were  Indians.  As 
soon  as  they  met,  Johnston  spoke  to  them, 
and  one  of  the  Indians  answered  in  broken 
English  and  in  a rather  surly  manner. 

He  asked  the  Indian  if  he  could  tell  him 
where  he  could  find  grass  and  water.  The 
Indian  shook  his  head  and  said  “no”  very 
promptly.  He  then  asked  Johnston, 
“Where  you  from?”  Johnston  answered, 
“From  Ohio.”  The  word  Ohio  seemed  to 
arouse  the  Indian  and  he  said,  “What 
part?”  The  answer  was  “Piqua.”  The 
Indian’s  eye  flashed  and  he  straightened 
up  on  his  horse  and  said,  “You  know  Col. 
John  Johnston?”  and  he  answered  that  he 
did.  He  then  asked,  “Who  are  you?”  and 
was  answered,  “My  name  is  Johnston — 


478 


HISTORY  OF  MIAMI  COUNTY 


Bill  Johnston.”  The  Indian  looked  at  him 
very  earnestly  for  a moment  and  said, 
“YOU  BILL  JOHNSTON;  YOU  KNOW 
COL.  JOHN  JOHNSTON?”  and  again  he 
answered,  “Yes.”  The  Indian  then  told 
them  to  follow  and  going  a short  distance 
pointed  out  where  they  could  find  a small 
stream  of  water  and  plenty  of  grass.  On 
the  way  he  asked  particularly  concerning 
Col.  Johnston  and  family  and  himself,  and 
it  transpired  that  the  Indian  and  Johnston 
had  been  boys  here  of  about  the  same  age 


and  had  played  together  at  Upper  Piqua 
while  the  Indians  yet  remained  here. 

When  he  had  fully  satisfied  himself 
concerning  Col.  Johnston  and  family  and 
William  Johnston’s  identity  and  after 
showing  the  location  of  grass  and  water, 
he  said  to  Johnston,  “So  you  Bill  Johns- 
ton? You  know  Col.  Johnston?  You 
know  Piqua?  You  live  at  Piqua?  Well, 
G — d D — n!”  and  shaking  hands  with 
Johnston  and  Lawton,  he  turned  his 
horse’s  head  and  with  his  Indian  com- 
panion rode  off  on  the  plains. 


Sr.  Mary  Catholic  Church,  Piqua 


Baptist  Church,  Piqua 


Fountain  Park,  Piqua 


Miami  River  at  Piqua 


Piqua  High  School  Building 


St.  Boniface  Parochial  School,  Piqua 


Presbyterian  Church,  Piqua 


Memorial  Hospital,  Piqua 


Piqua  Postoffice 


Piqua  City  Hall 


REV.  GEORGE  MASON  EDGAR 


The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  on  a farm  near  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  in  1829,  and  was  reared 
by  parents  who  were  slave  holders  and  was  nursed  by  a "Black  Mammy"  but  grew  up  opposed  to  the  insti- 
tution. His  parents  moved  to  Greenbrier  county.  West  Virginia,  when  he  was  a child.  He  came  as  a 
young  man  to  Ohio  and  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  while  preparing  for  the  ministry.  He  entered  the 
Cincinnati  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  1855  and  continued  in  that  service  for  53 
years.  Ho  married  Mary  C.  Brindle,  of  Wilmington,  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  1856.  who  died  in  1879.  From 
this  union,  five  children  were  torn  : Lizzie  D..  who  married  Geo.  S.  Helman,  of  Troy ; William  B.,  of 
Chicago.  111.:  Francis  M.,  of  Wilmington;  Luella  M.,  who  married  W.  S.  McMath,  of  El  Paso,  Texas;  and 
Edwin  E.,  of  Troy,  who  married  Elizabeth  Margaret  Campbell,  of  Troy,  daughter  of  John  Montgomery 
Campbell,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work.  In  the  early  60’s  Mr.  Edgar  was  stationed  several  years  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Addison  circuit  and  preached  at  McKendrie  Chapel  in  Elizabeth  township  of  which 
my  father  and  his  family  were  members.  I heard  him  preach  often  and  knew  him  well  for  many  years. 
He  may  be  designated  as  an  intermediate  between  the  pioneer,  Peter  Cartwright,  and  the  latter  day  college 
educated  divines  and  yet  he  had  much  of  the  ruggedness  of  the  backwoods  and  the  culture  of  a more  recent 
civilization.  I feel  quite  certain  he  was  as  tall  as  Abraham  Lincoln  and  certainly  as  powerfully  built.  At 
Beech  Grove  chap>el,  one  of  the  Addison  Circuit  churches  where  he  preached  during  the  Civil  War,  a butter- 
nut was  snatched  from  the  coat  of  a copperhead  which  was  about  to  end  in  a free  fight  whn  Edgar  stepped 
from  the  church,  quietly  threw  on  his  coat  and  informed  the  crowd  that  he  was  opposed  to  treason  and 
was  there  to  fight  it.  He  towered  above  any  man  there  and  awed  the  Southern  sympathizers  into  sub- 
mission. This  incident,  with  numerous  details  is  told  to  this  day  around  every  fireside  of  that  community 
as  one  of  the  remarkable  incidents  of  the  exciting  period,  when  the  Sons  of  Liberty  and  the  Knights  of 
Liberty  in  their  secret  sessions  actually  drew  lots  for  the  murder  of  their  neighbors.  My  father’s  homo 
was  about  half  way  between  Addison  and  McKendrie  and  was  the  stopping  place  frequently  for  meals  of 
our  circuit  preachers.  In  this  way  Brother  Edgar  became  a personal  friend  of  our  family  whose  friendship 
was  very  dear  to  us.  He  died  in  1909  and  was  buried  at  Troy,  at  four  score  an  1 one  year  of  age,  ripe  in 
the  service  of  his  Master  and  fit  for  the  Kingdom  of  his  God. 


JOHN  E.  HENNE 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  in  1846  and  died  in  Troy,  Ohio,  July 
1.  1909,  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  He  came  to  Troy  in  i8601,  where  his  brother,  Joseph 
Henne,  long  a prominent  business  man  had  preceded  him.  He  was  consecutively  in  the  shoe,  restau- 
rant and  insurance  business,  accumulating  three  city  properties  and  a farm. 

Mr.  Henne  united  in  marriage  with  Margaret  Eitel  in  1865,  from  which  union  six  children  were 
born:  Anna  Margaret  was  born  on  June  26,  1866,  and  was  married  to  Eberhart  Maier,  who  was 
judge  of  the  Miami  County  Probate  Court  from  1906  to  1913.  From  this  union  one  child  was  born, 
William,  now  a soldier  in  the  war  against  Germany. 

Frederick  Lafayette  Henne  was  born  August  10,  1867.  He  married  Miss  Emma  Croner,  who  bore 
him  three  children : Clara,  Albert  and  Sibyl.  He  is  in  the  restaurant  business  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Louis  George,  died  in  infancy.  Lillie  May  was  born  May  30,  1897,  and  married  George  Emmett  Daugh- 
erty, from  which  union  two  children  have  been  born. 

Harry  J.  Henne  was  born  in  Troy  on  July  30,  1883,  and  married  Ada  Stevens  on  September  19,  1909, 
from  which  union  a child,  a son,  Frederick,  was  born,  on  October  10,  1910.  Mr.  Henne  was  educated 

in  the  Troy  schools,  worships  at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  is  a member  of  Odd  Fellows,  Junior  Order, 

and  Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  and  his  brother  Frank  Albert,  are  engaged  as  partners  in  the  jewelry 
business,  and  have  a second  house  for  the  sale  of  music  and  speaking  phones. 

Frank  Albert  Henne,  was  born  in  Troy  on  May  12,  1885,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Helen  Stelzer  on 
March  4,  1908,  from  which  union  one  child,  a son,  John  Eberhard,  was  born  on  Janauary  1,  1909.  Mr. 

Henne  was  educated  in  the  Troy  schools  anxi  is  a member  of  the  Elks  and  Junior  Order  of  American 

Mechanics.  He  is  a partner  of  his  brother  in  the  jewelry  and  phonograph  business.  These  two  young 
men  are  among  Troy’s  most  progressive  business  men,  and  are  worthy  scions  of  a worthy  sire,  whom  I 
called  friend  for  40  year's. 


GEORGE  PETERS 


The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  April  1,  1827,  within  five 
miles  of  the  Gettysburg  battlefield  and  heard  the  thunder  of  the  greatest  artillery  combat  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  His  father  was  a nurseryman  and  died  when  George  was  16  years  of  age,  who  then  took 
charge  and  conducted  the  nursery  for  forty  years.  He  was  married  to  Harriet  Smith  in  1846,  from  which 
union  were  born  Jacob,  Anna,  July  31,  1847  ; Wilson,  August  15,  1849  ; Maggie,  June  19,  1852  ; Mary  Elis- 
abeth, now  Mrs.  C.  F.  Heikes,  of  Staunton  township,  on  March  31,  1854  ; Ida,  September  13,  1857,  died 

September  25,  1873  ; Norris  Bernard,  August  25  1859  ; and  Sybil  Louisa,  October  23,  1867.  He  moved  to 
New  Carlisle,  Clark  county,  Ohio,  in  1868,  and  organized  the  extensive  nursery  of  that  place  and  came  to 
Troy  ten  years  later  and  organized  the  Fairmont  Nursery  company,  which  continued  to  transact  a very 
extensive  business  until  his  death  in  April  of  1881.  He  was  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  in 
Pennsylvania  but  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  when  he  came  to  Troy.  He  was  a member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  He  was  first  buried  in  the  New  Carlisle  cemetery  but  his  body  was  afterward  transferred  to  River- 
side in  Troy.  When  I was  postmaster  of  Troy  from  1879  to  1885,  the  Fairmont  Nursery  was  in  the  zenith 

of  its  popularity  and  prosperity  and  when  the  mail  received  by  them  was  quite  large,  Uncle  George,  as  we 
familiarly  called  him,  made  his  headquarters  at  our  office.  I had  rooms  above  the  office  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  public  square  and  it  was  there  he  and  I answered  much  of  his  correspondence.  He  was  a 
companionable  and  generous  man,  full  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness  and  when  his  work  was  done,  he 
left  behind  a host  of  sincere  friends  and  Troy  lost  one  of  her  best  men. 

Charles  N.  Peters,  a grandson  of  George  Peters,  and  a son  of  Wilson  Peters,  was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio,  in 
1876.  His  mother  was  Mary  J.  Forsman.  He  was  educated  in  Troy  and  at  the  Dayton  Commercial  college. 
He  married  Phena  M.  Davis,  of  Troy,  in  1899.  Mr.  Peters  remained  in  the  nursery  with  his  father  and  his 
Uncle  Norris  for  several  years  after  his  grandfather’s  death.  He  was  elected  auditor  of  Miami  county  in 
1914  and  re-elected  in  1916.  His  term  will  expire  in  September,  1919.  His  urbanity  has  made  him  many 
friends  and  supporters  while  his  excellent  conduct  of  the  office  has  marked  him  high  on  the  roll  of  efficient 
county  officers.  Charles  N.  Peters  is  one  of  our  most  likable  men. 


THE  HOME  OF  HENRY  W.  HEIST 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  i.-  of  German  extraction  and  was  born  February  6,  184S,  at  Hausen- Darmstadt. 
Germany.  He  lived  with  his  parents,  Louie  Hiest  and  Anna  Riebel,  receiving-  his  education  in  Germany. 
In  1869  he  started  to  serve  in  the  infantry  for  Germany  and  remained  there  until  he  came  to  this  country 
in.  December,  1871.  He  landed  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  came  on  west  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  for  nine  years.  In  July,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Studigel  from  which  union, 
three  children  were  born,  Mrs.  Carrie  Ziegenfelder,  Mrs.  Anna  Campbel,  andl  Mrs.  Rosa  Hayes.  In  1880, 
Mr.  Heist  moved  to  Edinburgh,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  for  six  months  after  which  he  moved  to  Troy 
where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  Heist  has  been  in  the  tailoring  business  for  the  last  40  years.  Mr.  Heist  and 
family  belong  to  the  evangelical  church  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge. 


FOREST  SCHOOL  BUILDING 
Located  on  the  first  Cemetery  reservation  of  Troy 


ST.  JOHNS  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH 

St.  John’s  Evangelical  Church  was  founded  in  August,  1848,  being  served  at  the  time  by  a Rev.  Debken. 
The  old  church  building  stood  on  the  site  now  owned  by  John  Hartstein,  Sr.  Not  until  1880,  when  Rev. 
W.  F.  Werheim,  of  the  German  Evang.  Synod  of  N.  A.,  took  charge  of  the  congregation,  did  the  same 
leap  into  the  forefront.  Under  his  able  pastorate  the  present  new  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1882,  on 
Walnut  and  Canal  streets.  There  are  70  families  connected  with  the  church  at  present.  The  Sunday  school, 
the  most  flourishing  department  of  the  church,  numbers  175,  including  the  Cradle  Roll.  The  Ladies’  Aid 
society  has  60,  Young  People’s  League  50,  the  Brotherhood  30  members.  In  all  23  pastors  have  served 
the  congregation  in  69  years.  The  latest  pastor  is  Rev.  A.  B.  Meyer,  who  has  been  in  charge  for  three 
years.  During  the  first  nine  months  of  our  country’s  participation  in  the  world-war,  just  twelve  young 
men  have  dedicated  their  lives  voluntarily  to  the  service  of  their  country’s  cause. 

In  the  last  three  years  the  congregation’s  special  contributions  toward  Missions  and  other  special  branches 
of  the  Synod’s  work  have  averaged  £200  annually. 


TRINITY  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  TROY 


THE  FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  TROY,  OHIO 

In  1812,  a log  church  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Main  street,  where  is  crosses  Clay  street,  and  the  Cin- 
nati,  Hamilton  and  Dayton  railroad.  It  was  a part  of  the  87  lots,  surveyed  by  Andrew  Wallace,  in  1807, 
in  the  Gahagan  addition,  a plot  of  which  is  elsewhere  published  in  this  work.  The  logs  composing  it  were 
cut  on  the  old  fair  ground  land  between  Union  street  and  the  Canal.  The  seats  were  made  from  small 
logs  split  into  and  smoothed  with  the  adz  and  drawing  knife.  The  legs  were  mortised  into  the  lower  or 
rounded  side. 

The  second  church,  erected  by  this  congregation  in  1825,  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  Mulberry  street, 
between  Franklin  and  Canal  streets  and  this  point  continued  to  be  the  location  of  the  Methodist  congre- 
gation, until  the  present  structure  on  Franklin  and  Cherry  streets  was  erected  in  1899.  The  second  church 
was  a substantial  brick  sctructure,  one  story  high,  with  low  roof  and  windows.  This  building  was  trans- 
formed into  a parsonage,  when  the  third  church  was  built  in  1839  on  an  adjoining  lot.  The  third  church 
was  of  brick,  one  story  high,  with  two  front  doors.  Within,  a gallery  ran  around  three  sides  of  the  room. 

The  fourth  church  was  a remodel  of  the  third  and  built  in  1864,  under  the  pastorate  of  Thomas  Collett, 
who  was  the  architect  and  master  spirit  of  the  enterprise.  When  a great  cross  was  being  placed  on  the 
high  steeple,  I said  to  Dr.  Collett,  “The  world  will  think  it  is  a Catholic  Church,”  and  he  replied,  “The 
Catholics  must  not  have  the  exclusive  right  to  the  use  of  the  cross.”  It  was  in  “Old  Mulberry”  on 
September  19,  1872,  that  Doctor  Crum,  married  me  to  Mabel  Binkley.  This  church  was  destroyed  by  fire 
on  Easter  Sunday,  1899. 

On  a clear  and  fragrant  morning  on  June  26,  1899,  ground  was  broken  for  the  fifth  Methodist  church 
house  in  Troy.  Charles  Gordon  Binkley,  the  youngest  member  of  the  primary  class,  a descendant  of  a 
long  line  of  Methodists,  took  out  the  first  tiny  spadeful  of  dirt  at  the  point  under  where  the  primary  class 
now  meet  each  Sunday.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  “to  the  service  and  worship  of  God”  on  May  2, 
1901.  It  has  a membership  of  more  than  800  souls. 

Mankind  to  mankind  would  be  just 
And  to  live  would  be  a joy 
It  life  was  what  I thought  it  was 
When  I was  a little  boy. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  ST.  PATRICK  CHURCH,  TROY,  OHIO 


In  1857  the  few  Catholics  who  lived  in  and  around  Troy,  assembled  for  divine  worship  at  the  home 
of  John  Danaher,  East  Main  St.,  where  the  first  Holy  Mass  in  Troy  was  celebrated.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  the  Hon.  J.  E.  Pearson, Probate  Judge,  who  heard  that  their  “House  of  Prayer”  was  too  small  to 
accommodate  them,  offered  to  the  Catholics  his  court-room,  West  Main  St.,  where  services  were  held  until 
the  following  year.  What  their  poverty  almost  prevented,  their  zeal  more  than  overcome,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  1858  the  _ Catholics  of  Troy  completed  their  own  church-building  and  dedicated  it  to  the 
honor  of  St.  Patrick.  The  dedicatory  services  were  presided  over  by  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Rosecranz, 
brother  of  the  great  American  General.  Priests  from  Piqua  and  Dayton  attended  to  the  wants  of  the 
young  parish  till  1877,  when  Rev.  F.  H.  Menke  was  made  its  first  resident  pastor. 

In  1883,  the  year  of  the  silver  jubilee,  the  church  was  enlarged  to  its  present  dimensions  by  the  Rev. 
J.  M.  Feldmann  and  re-dedicated  by  Archbishop  William  Henry  Elder,  of  Cincinnati. 

In  1886,  through  the  untiring  efforts  of  Rev.  F.  H.  Bene,  the  parochial  school  was  built,  and  twenty 
years  later  a substantial  addition  made  to  it. 

The  golden  jubilee  was  celebrated  September  13th,  1908,  and  the  sermon  for  the  occasion  delivered  by 
the  Most  Rev.  Henry  Moeller,  Archbishop  of  Cincinnati. 

In  the  summer  of  1915,  under  direction  of  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  A.  J.  Mentink.  the  members  of  the 
parish  decided  to  build  a new  and  larger  church,  and  on  October  20th  the  excavation  for  the  present 
church  and  rectory  was  begun,  but  owing  to  adverse  weather  conditions,  the  foundation  was  not  laid 
tili  the  following  spring,  when,  May  28th,  the  cornerstone  was  placed  in  position  by  Rev.  J.  M. 
Feldmann.  The  two  buildings  of  stone,  completed  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  at  a cost  of  $58,000, 
were  dedicated  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  Nov.  30th,  1916,  by  Archbishop  Henry  Moeller  in  the  presence  of 
forty-one  priests  and  a large  concourse  of  people.  The  church  stands  as  the  finest  specimen  of  Gothic 
architecture  in  Miami  County.  And  today  the  Catholics  of  Troy  are  fully  five  hundred  in  number,  in- 
cluding seventy-five  children  who  attend  the  parochial  school. 


HOME  OF  DR.  JOSEPH  W.  MEANS 
Corner  of  Franklin  and  Mulberry  Streets,  Troy,  Ohio 


Dr.  Joseph  Warren  Means  was  born  in  Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  in  1855  and  was  educated  in  Covode  Academy. 
Pa.,  afterward  coming:  to  Ohio  where  he  entered  the  National  Normal  university  at  Lebanon  graduat.ng 
in  the  scientific  course  in  1877.  For  a number  of  years  thereafter,  he  was  an  efficient  and  popular  school 
tacher.  In  1880.  he  graduated  in  Pulte  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati ; in  1890.  he  took  a post  graduate 
course  at  Hahneman.  of  Chicago,  and  in  19  6.  post  graduate  course  in  New  York,  in  1887,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  American  Association  of  Orificial  Surgeons  in  Chicago  and  in  1900  became  the  president 
of  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  of  Ohio.  His  extensive  practice  has  been  n Troy  and  vicinity  from 
the  time  of  his  graduation  in  1880. 

Dr.  Means  has  assumed  his  share  of  public  service  having  served  as  coroner  of  the  county  and  as  a 
member  of  the  City  Council  of  Troy,  also  as  the  chairman  of  the  Republican  Executive  Committee  for 
twelve  years. 

While  pronounced  in  his  views  and  zealous  in  all  his  beliefs,  he  has  been  more  than  usually  endowed  with 
that  rare  gift  of  amiability  in  his  differences.  1 have  known  Dr.  Means  as  a friend  and  neighbor  for  forty 
years  and  have  never  seen  him  show  anger.  His  profession  has  been  sufficiently  lucrative  to  permit  him 
to  indulge  in  other  lines  of  investment. 

In  1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eola  F.  Roberts  and  to  this  union,  a daughter.  Myrtle,  was  born. 


HOME  OF  WILLIAM  HENRY  FRANCIS,  408  S.  MARKET  STREET,  TROY,  OHIO 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  revolutionary  stock.  His  grandfather,  George  Henry  Francis,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  was  a second  lieutenant  in  the  war  for  independence.  His  father  Jacob  Francis,  was 
a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  William  Henry  was  born  on  the  farm,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  on  January  31, 
1848.  After  leaving  the  farm  he  taught  school,  until  his  marriage  with  Ella  Gifford,  on  November  23, 
187G,  from  which  union  two  children  were  born  : Miss  Opal  Francis,  the  mistress  of  her  father’s  handsome 
home,  shown  above,  and  Dr.  Jesse  B.  Francis,  a practising  physician  of  Troy.  The  year  after  his  marriage 
he  moved  to  Arcanum  Darke  county,  where  he  remained  for  the  succeeding  fourteen  years,  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  when  he  moved  to  Troy  where  he  has  lived  for  the  past  28  years,  engaged  here  also  in 
the  lumber  business. 

The  wife  of  William  Henry  Francis  was  born  in  Butler  county,  on  October  15,  1858,  and  died  in  Troy, 
Ohio,  on  October  6,  1909,  and  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  Mr.  Francis  worships  at  the  First  Methodist 
church  and  for  many  years  rn  i+p  ^nard,  as  well  as  teacher  of  the  men’s  class  in  the  Sunday  school. 

He  is  one  of  Troy’s  most  substantial  citizens. 


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&RT- 

?*<}</ 


THE  TROY  CLUB 


JOHN  MAXWELL  HART 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1806  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  Troy  with  his 
mother  about  1820.  In  his  early  life  he  was  a wagoner  and  has  often  described  his  driving  a four- 
horse  team  between  here  and  Cincinnati,  carrying  the  products  of  Miami  county  to  that  point,  and 
bringing  merchandise  back  with  him.  He  afterward  learned  the  trade  of  a blacksmith,  and  naturally 
drifted  into  the  hardware  business,  the  first  in  Troy.  S.  K.  Harter  became  his  partner  in  1845.  They 
remained  together  for  20  years,  when  “Uncle  Mack”  as  he  was  familiarly  known,  left  the  business 
and  spent  much  of  his  time  looking  after  the  farms  owned  by  him  and  Mr.  Harter  with  whom  he 
lived  after  Harter’s  marriage  to  his  niece,  Olivia  Meredith.  He  was  one  of  the  best  judges  of  a 
horse  and  always  owned  and  drove  a good  one.  He  was  a grand  nephew  of  John  Hart  of  New  Jersey, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  While  “Uncle  Mack”  was  but  5 feet  7 inches 
in  height,  he  had  that  massive  look,  that  belonged  to  the  pioneer  men,  now  seldom  seen.  He  died  in 
1884  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MARY  J.  HAYNER 


Corner  of  Main  and  Short  Streets,  Troy,  Ohio 


FREDERICK  STEIL 

The  subject  of  the  above  picture  was  born  in  the  Palatinate,  a subdivision  of  Bavaria,  on  November  15, 
1850,  and  came  to  Troy,  Ohio,  as  a boy  14  years  of  age  and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  and  for  40 
years  afterward  was  a business  figure  on  our  streets,  always  industrious,  neat,  quiet,  intelligent,  discharging 
every  obligation  of  good  citizenship.  His  birthplace.  Bunkheim,  not  far  from  the  Rhine  and  near  the 
French  border,  made  him  in  appearance  and  demeanor  as  much  French  as  German.  He  discarded  old  world 
allegiance  at  once  and  thoroughly  after  his  arrival  here,  not  even  using  German  in  his  family  life  and  yet  he 
was  a cultured  German  scholar.  He  frowned  upon  the  hyphenated  term  German- American.  For  many 
years  before  his  death  he  owned  the  largest  stock  of  dry  goods  ever  brought  to  Troy  and  conducted  his 
business  in  the  double  store  room  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  public  square.  He  served  as  a member  of 
the  city  council  was  a Knight  Templar  and  worshipped  at  the  St.  John  Evangelical  church,  a cut  of  which 
appears  in  this  work.  He  died  in  1908  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery.  He  married  Christine  Ziegen- 
f elder,  a daughter  of  George  Ziegenf elder,  a pioneer  business  man  of  Troy,  on  September  15,  1876,  from 
which  union  one  child.  Frederick  William,  was  born.  His  wife  followed  him  to  his  last  resting  place  on 
July  29,  1911. 

FREDERICK  WILLIAM  STEIL 

Or  Will  Steil  as  he  is  familiarly  known  by  his  friends,  who  comprise  nearly  everybody  in  Troy  and  a 
large  per  cent  of  the  people  of  Miami  county,  was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio,  June  4,  1879,  and  lived  with  father, 
Frederick  Steil  and  Christine  Zeigenfelder.  He  was  graduated  at  the  Troy  high  school  and  joined  his  father 
in  the  dry  goods  business  under  the  firm  name  of  F.  Steil  & Son,  which  continues  in  the  present  day  as  the 
firm  name,  of  this  successful  and  progressive  enterprise. 

When  21  years  of  age,  he  married  Anna  Faye  Gibson,  on  October  17,  1900,  from  which  union,  one  child, 
Winifred,  was  born. 

Mr.  Steil  has  dignity  and  urbanity  coupled  with  a gentle  courtesy  of  behavior  that  has  won  him  a host 
of  loyal  friends  and  patrons. 

He  is  a Knight  Templar,  Knight  of  Pythias,  W.  O.  W.,  Junior  Order,  and  of  the  Troy  Club,  as  well  as  a 
director  in  the  Troy  Building  and  Savings  association.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Business  Men’s  League  of 
Troy  for  five  years  and  president  of  the  same  for  one  year,  in  which  work  he  became  especially  recognized 
and  conspicuous  for  his  intelligent  devotion.  He  and  his  family  worship  at  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
of  Troy  and  occupy  a high  position  in  the  social  life  of  Troy,  extending  warm  hospitality  from  their  hand- 
some home  on  Mulberry  and  Franklin  streets. 


WILLIAM  M.  HAYNER 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  in  1857,  and  buried  at  Troy,  Ohio,  in 
Riverside  Cemetery,  in  the  most  expensive  tomb  in  Miami  County,  on  July  9,  1912.  He  came  to  Troy 
in  early  youth  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Louis  Hayner,  and  made  this  place  his  home  for  most  of  his 
life.  He  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  in  the  State  of  Texas  from  1880  to  1885,  returning 
to  Ohio  and  engaging  in  the  manufacture  of  orange  wine  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  which  was  sold  exten- 
sively throughout  the  United  States  for  several  years.  He  purchased  the  distillery  of  his  Uncle  Louis, 
in  existence  for  more  than  50  years,  added  extensively  to  the  facilities  and  sold  the  product  of  the 
Hayner  Distilling  Company  exclusively  to  the  consumer  through  the  mail  order.  All  of  his  goods  were 
shipped  for  payment  on  approval  after  trial,  being  the  forerunner  of  that  system  so  extensively  practiced 
now  throughout  the  country.  The  fortune  he  accumulated  was  the  largest  of  any  one  man  in  the 
history  of  Miami  County.  At  one  time,  his  extensive  warehouses  in  Troy  contained  80,000  barrels  of 
whiskey,  the  largest  possession  of  this  character  by  any  one  man  in  the  country. 

He  married  Mary  Jane  Coleman  (nee  Harter)  on  Apri  2,  1891,  from  which  union  one  child,  a daughter. 
Isabella,  was  born.  Mr.  Hayner  established  branch  houses  in  several  of  the  principal  cities  of  the  United 
States  and  thus  founded  a business  organization  of  great  strength,  now  being  untilized,  since  the 
dissolution  of  the  distilling  company  in  building  up  “The  Grain  Product  Company,”  the  present  principal 
output  of  which  is  a breakfast  food. 

Mr.  Hayner,  during  his  life,  purchased  the  ground  and  building  and  after  extensive  improvements  thereon 
presented  the  property  to  The  Troy  Club,  of  which  he  died  a member. 


THE  HOME  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  ANI)  LAURA  STERRETT  HUMPHREYS 
615  East  Franklin  Street,  Troy,  Ohio 


Geo.  W.  Humphreys  was  born  at  Georgetown,  Brown  County,  Ohio,  on  June  11,  1862,  and  lived  with 
his  father  and  mother,  Alexander  J.  and  Permelia  Humphreys  until  manhood.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Georgetown  and  the  Normal  University  at  Lebanon,  Ohio.  He  was  educated  as  a 
druggist  and  entered  the  employment  of  Cottingham  and  Sterrett,  in  Troy,  and  was  married  co  Laura 
Alice  Sterrett  on  May  26,  1887,  who  was  a daughter  of  William  H.  Sterrett  of  New  Carlisle,  Clark 
County,  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  having  been  a county  commissioner  for  6 years  and 
mayor  of  New  Carlisle.  Laura  Sterrett  Humphreys  was  born  October  13,  1864,  and  educated  in  the  public 

srhools.  She  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when  married  but  went  with  her  husband 

to  the  First  Christian  Church,  where  she  has  been  a faithful  and  constant  worker  and  teacher. 

Soon  after  marriage,  George  W.  became  a clerk  in  the  post  office  at  Troy  and  has  been  the  assistant 

postmaster  for  so  many  years  that  “the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary,”  and  where  he  is 
likely  to  continue  to  the  end,  both  on  account  of  the  civil  service  rules  and  recognized  excellent  efficiency. 

He  is  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a trustee  of  the  Christian 
College  at  Defiance,  Ohio,  while  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  woman’s  board.  He  is  president  of  the 
official  board  of  the  First  Christian  Church  of  Troy  and  is  keenly  alive  to  the  every  interest  of  the 
church  in  which  he  is  ably  seconded  by  a mighty  nice  wife,  if  she  is  my  niece. 


ARLINGTON  HEIGHTS,  VIRGINIA 


This  historical  residence,  was  owned  b.v  George  Washington  Parke  Curtis,  the  adoDted  son  of  George 
Washington.  Robert  E.  Lee  married  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Custis  and  through  this  marriage  became  the 
owner  of  this  estate  of  1100  acres  and  lived  there  when  the  Civil  War  of  61  broke  out. 

Lincoln  authorized  Scctt  to  offer  Lee  the  position  of  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Union  forces.  It  was 

from  these  portals  that  Lee  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  over  the  Aque  duct  bridge  in  May,  1861,  to  visit 
Scott  in  Washington  on  this  subject,  and  in  the  interview  which  followed.  Lee  declined  to  accept  on  the 
grounds  that  he  was  bound  to  follow  the  action  of  his  state.  While  no  one  douhts  Lee’s  ability,  all 

thoughtful  men  wondered  why  he  did  not,  like  Thomas,  follow  that  half  of  his  state  that  remained  in 

the  Union. 

This  mansion  was  the  residence  of  General  De  Russev  in  1864.  It  was  guarded  by  Co.  A.  of  the  147 
O.  V.  I.  from  Miami  County.  Ohio.  In  the  summer  of  1864,  the  grounds  around  this  mansion  were 
laid  out  as  a national  cemetery  and  the  author  of  this  work  assisted  Hergestheimer  and  McMath,  of  the 
United  States  Coast  Survey  in  the  survey.  The  bodies  of  the  dead  were  being  brought  from  the  wilderness 
front  and  interred  there  in  large  numbers  during  that  summer.  Over  1700  Union  soldiers  are  now  buried 
there  and  among  them  Sheridan  and  Crook. 

Readers  of  history  will  recollect  how  the  6th  corps,  after  their  hard  fight  at  Monocacy,  with  so  many 
•of  our  gallant  Miami  County  boys  with  our  own  Col.  Otho  Binkley  at  their  head,  came  marching  across 
chain  bridge  and  struck  the  Confederates  so  sharply  that  Early  was  led  to  exclaim,  “Better  get  out,  Breck- 
enridge,’  those  are  not  hundred  day  men.” 

During  June  and  July  of  1864,  I occupied  the  room  in  this  mansion,  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  right- 
hand  column  of  the  above  picture  in  which  I found  a number  of  school  books  and  drawings  belonging  to 
various  members  of  the  Lee  family  and  among  them  a French  grammar,  with  the  name  “Agnes  Lee” 
written  on  the  front  flv  leaf  which  I brought  home  with  me  and  which  mv  mother  commanded  me  to 
return  after  the  war  and  which  I accordingly  did.  addressing  the  same  to  her  at  Charlottesville,  the  seat 
of  the  Virginia  University,  of  which  Gen.  Lee  was  then  the  President  and  from  which  act  I received  a 
courteous  reply  of  thanks. 

The  Lee  estate  was  confiscated  by  the  government  for  the  return  of  which  the  Lee  heirs  entered  suit 
on  the  ground  that,  under  the  Constitution,  treason  could  not  work  attainder  of  blood.  The  suit  was 
compromised  by  the  government  paying  the  Lee  heirs  the  sum  of  $260,000. 

It  is  here,  each  year,  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  supposed  to  deliver  a Memorial  day 
address  on  May  30. 


1*1 


INDEPENDENCE  HALL 


Philadelphia,  Pa. 


Immediately,  to  the  left  of  the  door  in  the  rear  of  the  above  picture,  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence was  signed  on  July  4,  1776,  and  to  the  rear  of  that  room  now  hangs  Liberty  Bell  that  proclaimed 

the  birth  of  that  immortal  document. 

On  Feb.  22,  1861,  Abraham  Lincoln  standing  on  the  space  occupied  by  the  tablet,  in  front  of  this 
picture,  raised  the  flag  over  Independence  Hall. 

On  Feb.  22,  1910,  Samuel  Van  Sant,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand  Army 

of  the  Republic,  and  Frank  M.  Sterrett,  of  Troy,  Ohio,  his  executive  officer,  stood  at  the  head  of  this 

tablet,  by  request  and  the  above  picture  was  published  in  the  Philadelphia  papers  of  that  date. 


_ 


ADAMS  STREET  BRIDGE 


Troy,  Ohio 


FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK 
Troy,  Ohio 


The  first  bank  in  Troy  was  the  Miami  County  branch  of  the  State  bank,  established  in  1847.  The 
First  National,  with  same  stockholders,  succeeded  the  State  bank  in  1865.  It  was  the  fifty-fifth  national 
bank  started  in  the  United  States.  It  is  capitalized  at  $200,000. 


ABBOT  EATON  CHILDS 


Was  of  pure  American  ancestry,  running  back  before  the  revolution.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
P.  and  Eltezera  Eaton  Childs,  born  in  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  on  August  29,  1845.  He  was  descended 
from  Daniel  Eaton,  a captain  in  the  army  and  Moses  Eaton,  a captain  in  the  navy,  during  the  revolution. 
He  was  a member  of  company  K,  12th  O.  V.  C.,  the  service  of  which  is  laid  down  in  another  part  of  this 
work.  After  the  war,  he  spent  nine  years  as  a job  printer  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  His  place  of  business 
burned  down  in  the  great  Chicago  fire  of  1871.  He  came  to  Troy  in  1876,  and  engaged  with  his  father  in 
the  preparation  and  sale  of  the  famous  Childs’  Catarrh  Specific  which  had  a long  and  successful  history  of 
cures  affected.  He  was  married  to  Olive  Alice  Shilling  on  May  11,  1875,  of  Troy,  from  which  union,  two 
sons  were  born  : Thomas  Maxwell  Childs,  in  Troy,  Ohio,  on  December  30,  1877,  now,  1917,  a captain  in  the 
aviation  signal  corps,  U.  S.  R.,  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Harry  Jesse  Childs,  in  Troy,  February  20,  1880, 
also  an  electrical  engineer,  now  with  the  Chateaugy  Ore  & Iron  Company,  Lyon,  New  York. 

Abbott  Eaton  Childs,  served  several  terms  in  the  city  council  of  Troy,  also  in  the  water  works  and  civil 
service  boards.  He  was  clerk  of  the  Miami  county  courts  from  1892  to  1898.  He  was  president  of  the 
Peoples  Building  and  Savings  association  of  Troy  for  17  years,  serving  at  the  time  of  his  death.  This 
institution,  with  more  than  a million  dollars  now  on  its  books,  had  received  a large  degree  of  his  careful 
business  attention.  The  prosperous  position  it  now  occupies  in  the  community  was  created  in  a great 
degree  to  the  unfaltering  devotion  that  marked  his  connection  with  it.  He  was  a member  of  the  First 
Baptist  church,  a Knight  Templar,  a Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  was  a kindly  and  benevolent  man  but  unswerving  in  his  conception  of  private  and  public  duty.  When 
he  died  and  was  buried  in  Riverside  cemetery  on  March  16,  1909,  one  of  Troy’s  most  honorable  and  valuable 
citizens  had  departed  to  that  bourne  from  which  no  travel  returns. 

“Like  a tide  our  work  should  rise, 

Each  later  wave  the  best. 

Today  is  a king  in  disguise, 

Today  is  a special  test.’’ 


HON.  MARTIN  K.  GANTZ 

The  subject  of  the  above  portrait  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Bethel  Township,  Miami  County,  on  January 
28,  1862,  where  he  remained  until  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  entered  the  Normal  University  at  Lebanon, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years. 

In  1880.  he  entered  the  law  office  of  E.  S.  Williams  in  Troy,  where  he  remained  until  1882  when  he 
entered  the  Cincinnati  Law  School  from  which  he  graduated  in  1888  and  formed  a partnership  with 
E.  S.  Williams  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  which  continued  until  1889. 

During  this  period  he  was  nominated,  in  1884.  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  Prosecuting  Attorney  of 
Miami  County,  and,  although  he  ran  500  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket,  he  was  defeated  by  Samuel  Jones 
of  West  Milton. 

He  formed  a law  partnership  with  A.  F.  Broomhall  in  1889  which  continued  until  1894.  During  this 
period,  in  1890,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Troy,  being  the  only  Democrat  on  the  ticket  elected  at  that  time. 

In  1894,  the  Fourth  Congressional  District  was  composed,  of  Preble.  Darke.  Mercer,  Shelby,  Champaign 
and  Miami  Counties.  The  Democratic  Convention  of  that  year  met  in  Sidney  and  remained  several  days 
in  a dead  lock  session,  unable  to  make  a nomination,  and  finally  adjourned  to  rn^et  in  Eaton  at  a 
subseauent  date,  where  Mr.  Gantz  received  the  nomination  and  was  elected  to  the  fifty-second  Congress. 
He  was  aonointed  and  served  on  the  committes  on  banking  and  elections.  His  speech  advocating  the 
election  of  United  States  Senators  by  a direct  vote  of  the  people  gave  him  considerable  notoriety  throughout 
the  country.  William  Jennings  Bryan  was  a member  of  this  Congress  with  whom  Mr.  Gantz  formed  a 
strong  friendship  which  lasted  during  the  life  of  the  latter. 

In  1896.  when  Mr.  Gantz  was  again  a candidate,  the  District  had  been  changed  into  an  overwhelming 
Republican  one.  and  Mr.  Gantz  was  defeated  although  he  ran  200  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

He  married  Miss  Gertrude  Baird  on  October  1,  1885,  who  died  on  May  25,  1888,  and  was  buried  in  River- 
side Cemetery.  From  this  union,  one  son,  Maurice,  was  born,  the  present  County  Surveyor  of  Miami 
County. 

On  October  1891,  Mr.  Gantz  was  manned  to  Mary  Green,  a daughter  of  Dr.  J.  H.  and  Almira  Green, 
long  and  favorably  known  in  Troy : the  doctor  for  his  high  standing  as  a physician,  and  his  wife  as  a 
teacher  and  the  first  woman  member  of  the  School  Board  of  Troy. 

In  1915.  through  the  influence_  of  his  friend.  W.  J.  Bryan,  then  Secretary  of  State,  the  President  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Gantz  as  a director  in  the  Bank  of  Nicaraugua  and  of  the  Nicaraugua  railroad,  in  compliance 
with  treaty  stipulations  between  the  two  powers.  He  and  his  wife,  in  his  official  capacity,  visited  Nicar- 
augua from  which  trip  he  returned  to  Troy  a sick  man.  At  five  oclook.  Thursday  morning,  Feb.  10  1916, 

he  made  a pillow  of  manly  accomplishments,  and  laid  down  to  rest,  his  reputation  secure.  His  wife  and 
Son  survive  him. 

He  was  a Mason  and  a member  of  the  Trov  Club.  In  my  more  than  30  years  of  intimate  acauaintance 
and  association  with  him.  I have  known  no  kindlier  and  genial  gentleman. 


HOME  OF  .JOHN  W.  FULKERSON 


George  W.  Fulkerson,  the  father  of  John  M.  Fulkerson,  was  born  in  Seneca  county.  New  York,  in 
September,  1828.  He  moved  to  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  when  a very  small  boy  and  it  was  there  he  gained  most  of 
his  education.  He  was  interested  in  farm  work  but  later  became  a physician  and  had  quite  an  extensive 
practice  throughout  Shelby  county.  He  married  Margaret  J.  Mills  in  1875  from  which  union  there  were 
three  children  born,  John,  Walter,  and  William.  He  belonged  to  the  Methodist  church  and  also  the  Odd 
Fellows  lodge.  He  continued  his  practice  as  a physician  until  his  death  in  December  28,  1892.  He  was 
buried  in  Houston,  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a very  well  thought  of  man. 

John  M.  Fulkerson,  the  son  of  George  W.  Fulkerson,  was  born  in  New  Port,  Shelby  county,  on  April  3, 
1878.  He  obtained  most  of  his  early  education  there  and  continued  to  live  there  with  his  parents  until  he 
went  to  the  Ohio  Northern  university,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  May,  1900.  On  July  11,  1900, 
two  months  later  he  was  married  1o  Maude  L.  Killian  from  which  union  two  children  were  born,  Margaret 
and  Florine.  In  March,  1902,  he  moved  to  Troy  where  he  started  business  for  himself  as  a druggist.  He 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  church  and  also  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 


THE  HOME  OF  ALBERT  CONRAD  NICOL,  101  E.  WATER  STREET,  TROY,  OHIO 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Marysville,  Union  county,  Ohio,  on  November  14,  1872,  and  lived 
with  his  father  and  mother,  John  C.  Nicol  and  Mary  A.  Burger  Nicol  until  manhood,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Marysville.  He  was  married  to  Marne  Barry,  a descendant  of  the  extensive 
Culbertson  family  of  Troy,  among  the  early  and  substantial  pioneers  here,  on  November  28,  1894.  Mr. 
Nicol  had  been  in  Troy  at  that  time  since  1887,  engaged  in  the  coal  business.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
Trojan  Coal  company  and  enjoys  an  extensive  patronage.  The  coal  shortage  in  Ohio  during  this  winter 
of  1917-18,  prevents  him  from  filling  even  a small  per  cent  of  his  orders.  Mr.  Nicol  is  a Knight  Templar, 
an  Elk  and  a member  of  the  Troy  club.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopalian  church. 


THE  HOME  OF  G.  W.  LORIMER,  SOUTH  WALNUT 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  County  Brant,  Ontario,  Dominion  of  Canada,  in  1874.  He  gained 
his  early  education  th«”e  and  also  learned  telegraphy,  which  he  followed  until  1892.  In  1897,  Mr.  Lorimer 
married  Miss  Jennie  Hunter,  of  Ontario  Canada,  from  which  union  three  children  were  born : A.  Hoyt, 
Genevieve,  and  Harry  Townsend  Lorimer.  A short  while  previous  to  his  marriage  Mr.  Lorimer  became 
interested  in  the  automatic  telephone  exchanges  and  accepted  the  position  of  secretary-treasurer  of  The 
American  Machine  Telephone  Company,  Limited,  for  the  manufacture  of  machine  telephone  exchanges, 
vvhich  is  known  as  the  Lorimer  system  he  and  his  brother  being  the  patentees.  They  have  these  exchanges 
established  in  Canada,  France,  and  Italy  and  in  the  interests  of  his  business  he  has  visited  these  countries. 
The  Auto  Sand  Mixer  Company,  of  Piqua.  manufacturing,  was  organized  and  incorporated  in  1906,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $40,000,  with  G.  W.  Lorimer  as  president  and  general  manager  ; V.  E.  Minnich,  vice  presi- 
dent: G.  A.  Vangier,  treasurer;  and  Dr.  P.  T.  Snorf,  secretary,  for  the  manufacturing  of  sand  mixing 
machinery  for  foundry  use.  Mr  Lorimer  is  the  patentee  of  this  invention.  In  addition  to  the  patents  he 
has  already  secured  on  his  two  notable  inventions,  he  has  fourteen  more  pending  relative  to  the  same.  Mr. 
Lorimer  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church  and  also  is  a Thirty-second  Degree  Mason,  Past  Master  of 
Warren  Lodge  of  Piqua,  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  Piqua,  the  Council  and  Commandery  at  Troy,  and  the 
Consistory  of  Dayton.  He  has  the  finest  collection  of  archeological  specimens  and  old  firearms  belonging 
to  any  private  collection  in  Ohio.  He  collected  many  of  these  in  his  travels  and  keeps  them  at  his  own 
pretty  home  in  Troy  H°  is  engaged  at  present  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Loraphone,  a musical  instrument 
of  which  he  is  the  patentee. 


HOME  OF  GEORGE  FRANCIS  HOWELL.  516  WEST  MARKET  STREET, 

TROY,  OHIO 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Morrow  county.  Ohio,  on  November  23.  1862,  and  lived  with  his 
lather  and  mother,  George  and  Phoebe  C.  Howell  on  the  heme  farm  until  after  his  marriage  with  Gertrude 
E.  Kreider  on  November  21,  1889.  From  this  union,  three  children  were  born,  two  of  whom  live,  Albert 
Kreider  Howell,  his  son,  was  born  on  May  10,  1899. 

Hr.  Howell  received  his  education  in  the  public  school?  of  Morrow  countv  and  came  to  Troy  in  July  of 
1891  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  being  the  proprietor  of  the  Miami  Cash  Grocery  in  the  rear  of  the 
Troy  City  building.  He  and  family  worship  at  the  First  Methodist  church,  of  Troy.  He  is  a respected 
and  substantial  citizen  of  his  adopted  city. 


PLANT  OF  THE  TROY  ICE  COMPANY,  JOSEPH  BLEVINS,  PROPRIETOR 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  American  nativity,  born  in  Concord  township  in  1868,  and  lived  with  his 
father  and  mother,  Soloman  and  Ella  Blevins,  until  manhood.  He  was  educated  in  the  Troy  schools  and  was 
engaged  in  the  moving  of  houses  for  several  years.  His  large  transfer  wagons  have  moved  the  majority 
of  all  freight  consigned  to  Troy  merchants  and  manufacturers  for  many  years  and  the  household  goods 
from  one  section  of  the  city  to  another.  To  this  business  he  had  added  ice  and  coal,  owning  both  ice  plants 
and  supplying  Troy,  New  Carlisle,  in  Clarke  county,  Arcanum  and  Pittsburg  in  Darke  county,  Tippecanoe 
City  and  other  towns  in  Miami  county.  The  capacity  of  his  new  plant  is  32  tons  daily.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Eagles  lodge  in  Troy,  and  served  six  years  in  the  Troy  council.  He  was  married  to  Ella  Perkins  in 
1907  from  which  union  one  child  was  born.  He  is  a self-made  man  and  has  made  two  blades  of  grass  to 
grow  where  but  one  grew  before. 


THE  HOME  OF  MRS.  HENRY  S.  THOMPSON 

On  May  Street,  Troy,  Ohio 


Henry  S.  Thompson  was  born  on  the  8th  of  October,  1879,  near  Saginaw,  Mich,  and  received  a 
preliminary  education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality ; at  the  Military  Academy  at  Cayuga  Lake  in 
New  York  and  afterwards  took  a course  at  Williams  College  in  Massachusetts,  after  which  he  engaged 
for  two  years  in  the  lumber  business  in  Florida ; after  which  period  he  was  attached  five  years  to  the 
firm  of  Allen  and  Wheeler,  principally  in  the  tobacco  department. 

He  married  Bessie  Coleman  of  Troy,  the  daughter  of  Horace  Coleman,  Jr.,  and  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Hayner,  on  October  12,  1904,  after  which  he  engaged  extensively  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  in 
which  business  he  remained  until  his  death  on  June  16,  1916,  when  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  beautiful 
Riverside,  leaving  behind  him  a host  of  sincere  friends,  whom  he  had  attached  to  himself  through  his 
unusually  urbane  and  kindly  disposition. 

He  was  a prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  the  Troy  Club,  of  the  Island  Outing 
Club,  and  with  his  wife  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Troy. 

Mrs.  Thompson,  who  survives  her  husband,  was  bom  in  Troy  on  June  15,  1383.  where  she  resides 
in  her  handsome  home  and  is  known  for  her  good  works  and  the  tender  memory  in  which  she  holds 
her  departed  husband. 

Every  day  is  a little  life  and  every  life  is  a day  repeated. 


THE  HOME  OF  JOSEPH  H.  TORBECK,  521  EAST  CANAL  STREET,  TROY,  OHIO 


Joseph  H.  Torbeck,  proprietor  of  the  cigar,  tobacco  store  and  billiard  parlor  at  Main  and  Walnut  streets, 
Troy,  was  born  in  Richmond,  Indiana,  from  which  place  he  moved  to  Dayton  and  from  that  city  to  Troy 
in  1906.  He  has  twice  married.  His  first  marriage  was  with  Susan  Funk,  who  died  October  14,  1908.  He 
was  subsequently  married  to  Carrie  M.  Ditmer,  July  16,  1911,  from  which  union  they  have  one  daughter? 
Carrie.  In  the  twelve  years  Mr.  Torbeck  has  been  in  our  midst,  he  has  quietly,  by  industry,  built  up  a 
profitable  industry  and  has  obtained  a name  for  integrity  which  is  to  be  desired  by  all  honorable  men.  His. 
genial  manner  and  courtesy  have  created  for  him  many  valuable  and  esteemed  personal  friends. 


-.—.■■a. 


ADDISON  THORNDYIvE  JAQUES 


Addison  Thorndyke  Jaques  was  born  on  October  13,  1826,  in  Tewksbury,  Mass.,  removing  to  Troy,  Ohio, 
in  1849,  where  he  died  on  October  14,  1916. 

He  was  married  to  Laura  Amanda  Fellows,  of  West  Jefferson  Ohio,  on  December  28,  1853,  from  which 
union  two  children  were  born,  Charles  F,  October  27,  1854,  and  Harvey  F.  on  August  29,  1858.  Charles 
followed  his  father  to  the  plains  of  light  in  just  two  months,  December  14,  1916. 

His  first  venture  in  business  was  in  the  capacity  of  partner  of  Hanson  S.  Mayo  in  the  flouring  mill  at 
the  Old  Troy  Lock  Mills,  run  by  water  power  from  the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal.  He  left  the  mill  for  his 
farm  at  Cowlesville  where  he  remained  until  1864  when  he  returned  to  Troy  and  soon  after  leased  the  Sheets 
flouring  mills  two  and  one  half  miles-  east  of  Troy  on  the  Springfield  turnpike.  In  1867,  he  moved  to  his 
farm  on  the  Covington  pike,  midway  between  the  two  towns  and  in  1869,  moved  back  to  Troy  where  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  Gilmore  Orbison  and  Thomas  Orr  as  partners.  He  afterwards  owned 
his  own  lumber  yard  between  Market  and  Walnut  street  and  Race  street  and  the  canal  with  his  two  sons. 
His  wife  died  on  Feb.  1,  1901.  He  remained  in  the  lumber  business  until  the  early  90’s  when  he  retired 
with  only  his  farming  interests  to  engage  his  time.  Mr.  Jaques  was  thoroughly  public  spirited,  taking  a 
lively  interest  in  all  civic  improvements.  He  served  n the  City  Council  and  as  a member  of  the  school 
board.  He  probably  prided  himself  more  on  the  fact  that  he  led  in  the  organization  of  Riverside  cemetery 
than  any  other  of  his  public  acts.  He  was  a Democrat  in  his  political  alliance,  but  was  an  independent 
voter  on  all  local  matters.  He  was  entirely  courageous  in  his  advocacy  of  measures  to  which  he  had  given 
his  adherence,  but  universally  fair  and  dignified.  His  carriage  was  erect  to  the  last  of  his  life.  It  is 
probable  that  no  man  has  ever  lived  in  Troy  to  be  90  years  of  age  who  kept  the  youthful  color  in  his 
cheek  and  such  alertness  in  his  step.  He  once  said  to  me,  “I  want  it  said  of  me,  I did  my  part.” 


Charles  W.  Cookson,  A.  M.  Ped.  D. 

Superintendent  Public  Schools,  Troy,  Ohio 
Lecturer,  Institute  Instructor 

Is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  born  in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  on  July  6th,  1861,  and  lived  with  his  father, 
William  Rand,  his  mother,  Mariah  Adaline  Skinner,  until  manhood.  They  were  not  situated  to  gratify, 
in  a full  sense,  the  desire  of  their  son  for  a classical  education,  but  in  no  wise  discouraged,  the  young 
man  fought  his  own  way  through  Fultonham  Academy  in  Muskingum  County,  the  University  at  Wooster 
and  the  State  University  at  Athens. 

After  graduation.  Prof.  Cookson  became  the  Superintenent  of  the  schools  at  New  Straitsville  and 
Somerset,  Ohio. 

He  united  in , marriage  with  Madge  E.  Davis  on  August  22,  1894,  from  which  union  two  children  have 
oeen  born  Ernestine  on  Sept.  25,  1896,  and  Forest  Eugene  on  February  4,  1899. 

Miss  Ernestine,  at  this  writing,  is  in  attendance  at  the  Miami  University  and  Forest  Eugene  is  a cadet 
at  the  United  States  Mililtary  Academy  at  West  Point  in  New  York. 

Prof.  Cookson  came  to  Troy  in  1906,  where  for  the  past  twelve  years,  he  has  been  the  efficient  successor 
of  Edwards,  Dowd  and  VanCleve. 

He  has.  in  that  time,  impressed  his  remarkable  industry  upon  every  department  of  our  life.  I 
doubt  whether  any  other  man  in  our  community  attends  and  participates  in  so  many  public  assemblages. 
Not  to  see  him  introduce  our  Chautauqua  lecturerers,  speaking  at  our  soldiers’  reunions,  teaching  in 
the  Sunday  School,  ushering  and  collecting  at  church  services  and  bearing  his  part  of  the  load  in  every 
civic  enterprise  would  cause  inquiry  about  his  health. 

He  has  achieved  popularity  as  a plaform  orator  and  his  services  as  a lecturer  are  very  much  in  demand, 
more  especially  on  “The  Boy  and  his  Mother,”  ^‘Building  Character,”  “The  Scarlet  Cord,”  and  “Our 
Country’s  History  as  a lesson  for  the  Future.” 


THE  FIRST  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  TROY,  OHIO 

The  cornerstone  of  this  church  was  laid  on  June  28,  1862,  during  the  exciting  events  of  the  Civil  War, 
after  six  years  of  preaching  in  the  old  town  hall  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Cherry  Streets.  It  cost 
$5,503.08  and  the  society  was  in  debt  $471.21  when  the  building  was  completed.  The  address  at  the 
dedicatory  services  was  made  by  Rev.  A.  L.  McKinney,  the  organizer,  who  soon  after  became  the  fighting 
chaplain  of  the  71  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  granted  a leave  of  absence  and  remained  the  pastor  until  1865  when 
he  resigned. 

On  Easter  Sunday,  April  21,  1895,  during  the  pastorate  of  W.  I.  Warbington,  the  building  fund  for  the 
new  church  was  begun.  On  Sunday  morning.  April  17,  1904,  a resolution  was  adopted  authorizing  a be- 
ginning at  once  in  the  active  work  of  building  a new  church.  The  last  service  in  the  old  church  was  held 
on  May  1,  1904.  The  cornerstone  of  the  new  temple  of  worship  was  laid  on  Thursday,  May  4,  1905,  at 
2:30  p.  m.  and  the  church  dedicated  on  April  1,  1906. 

I attended  the  first  funeral  service  in  the  new  house,  of  that  old  veteran  of  the  cross.  Rev.  Peter 
McCollough  whom  I had  known  for  a half  centurj'  and  with  whom  I had  worked  at  Lower  Honey  Creek 
Church  and  at  Miami  City. 

The  building  committee  was  D.  M.  McCullough,  H.  E.  Clemm.  Neturn  Rathbun,  A.  E.  Sinks,  John 
W.  Shoup  and  George  W.  Humphreys.  The  pastors  have  been  A.  L.  McKinney,  J.  J.  Miller,  William  Jay, 
J.  P.  Watsop.  James  Maple,  G.  E.  Merrell,  G.  W.  Shane,  W.  I.  Warbington,  Warren  H.  Dennison,  I.  S. 
Weeks  and  J.  E.  Etter. 

Dr.  Etter,  the  present  pastor,  1918,  informs  me  the  present  membership  is  830. 

WELCOME 

“Whosoever  thou  art  who  enterest  this  church 
Remember  it  is  the  house  of  God  ; 

Be  reverent,  be  silent,  be  thoughtful ; 

And  leave  it  not  without  a prayer  to  God, 

For  thyself,  for  those  who  minister. 

And  for  those  who  worship  here.” 

THE  OFFICIAL  BOARD  OF  1918, 

G.  W.  HUMPHREYS,  President. 

P.  G.  YANTIS,  Vice  President, 

I.  K.  WISINER.  Secretary. 


EDWARDS  SCHOOL  BUILDING 

Henry  Calhoun,  pastor  of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  in  Troy  in  1867,  said  over  the  dead  body 
of  William  Norris  Edwards,  the  first  superintendent  of  the  Troy  schools,  “An  office  bearer  has  fallen 
among  us.  We  are  draped  in  sorrow  today.  There  is  no  one  here,  who  does  not  feel  that  this  is  his 
or  her  sorrow.  Be  comforted  in  what  you  see  and  know  that  this  brother  and  friend  is  embalmed  in 
our  love.” 


HISTORY  OF  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  TROY,  OHIO 

Sometime  between  1830  and  1834,  Mr.  Joseph  R.  John  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  church 
edifice  a building  for  the  triple  purpose  of  family  use,  for  school  rooms,  and  the  upper  part,  or  second 
story,  was  finished  off  as  a commodious  church  room. 

The  Church  organization  was  effected  with  31  constituent  members  and  articles  of  faith  adopted 
May  2nd.  1834,  and  Rev.  J.  L.  Moore  chosen  as  pastor.  Mr.  John  gave  the  use  of  his  house,  rent  free, 
the  church  only  paying  for  repairs  and  incidental  expenses.  This  arrangement  continued  with 
Mr.  John  until  1843,  when  the  church  was  incorporated  and  bought  the  property. 

In  1855  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  T.  P.  Childs  the  present  Church  building  was  built  but  only  the  base- 
ment room  was  finished  and  used  for  church  services,  and  in  1865  changes  were  made  in  the  building 
and  the  auditorium  finished  and  furnished. 

The  two  longest  pastorates  were  those  of  Rev.  Zelora  Eaton  and  Rev.  R.  E.  Carney. 


AN  HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Troy,  Ohio 

In  a little  Century-old  book  was  written  the  following  : 

“A  Record  of  the  Beginning  and  Progress  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  Ohio. 

Monday,  Sept.  13th,  1813. 

^‘According  to  a pub’ication  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Alexander  Telford  to  organize  a Presbyterian 
Church,  Hugh  Scott  was  chosen  Elder,  to  represent  the  Church  members  present.” 

The  house  of  Alexander  Telford  where  this  first)  meeting  was  held  was  a little  log  cabin  about  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  present  City  Water  Works  Building,  out  on  West  Main  Street,  the  original  members 
being  the  Orbisons,  Telfords,  McClungs,  Youarts,  and  Shackelfords  and  Scotts. 

Some  years  afterwards  the  Church  organization  erected  a brick  meeting  house  in  Troy,  on  South 
Crawford  Street,  off  of  Franklin.  The  house  is  still  standing.  A little  graveyard  adjoined  this  Church, 
but  long  ago  gave  way  to  the  Forest  School  Building.  About  the  year  1840  there  arose  quite  a difference 
of  opinion  in  regards  to  the  tenets  of  the  Church  and  it  became  divided  into  what  was  known  as  the  Old 
and  New  School  Church.  The  brick  church  was  sold  and  those  who  excluded  from  the  Mother  Church 
bought  a lot  on  West  Main  Street  and  erected  a frame  building,  where  now  stands  the  First  Lutheran 
Church. 

The  New  School  built  a frame  church  on  its  present  location,  and  in  1859  built  the  present  brick 
building.  During  the  building  of  the  new  church,  the  people  worshipped  in  the  Court  House  on  West  Main 
Street,  the  site  being  the  Odd  Fellow’s  building  and  now  occupied  by  the  Post  Office.  Dr.  Daniel  Rice  was 
one  of  its  first  pastors,  being  succeeded  by  Wm.  M.  Gheever.  At  the  time  of  the  union  of  the  two 
church  in  1870,  Rev.  Henry  Calhoun  was  the  pastor.  Many  noble  and  gifted  men  have  filled  the  pulpit. 
For  many  years,  Rev.  A.  W.  Clokey  was  the  pastor.  J.  King  Gibson,  now  Chaplain  of  the  National 
Military  Home  at  Dayton.  Rev.  Clarence  Hills  and  Dr.  H.  B.  Elliott  served  the  church  very  acceptably, 
and  were  followed  by  Dr.  Charles  Herron,  now  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History  in  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Omaha.  Nebr.  Dr.  J.  W.  Clokey  came  from  a twenty-five  years  of  successful  service  at  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  and  was  pastor  here  nearly  eight  years  and  greatly  beloved  by  his  people.  He  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  Robert  H.  Dunaway.  Mr.  Dunaway  is  a graduate  of  Wooster  College,  also 
Lane  Seminary  and  all  his  pastorates  have  been  very  successful.  He  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  both  the 
Church  and  community.  He  is  ably  supported  by  a session  consisting  of  ten  ruling  elders,  being  men  of 
influence  and  prayer  and  students  of  the  word  of  God. 

The  membership  of  the  Church  is  about  450  and  harmony,  growth  and  prosperity  are  factors  in  the 
Church.  The  Sabbath  School  has  an  enrollment  of  over  250  and  is  in  a flourishing  condition.  Walter 
H.  Coles  is  the  efficient  Superintendent. 

During  the  year  1917  the  Church  underwent  extensive  repairs,  costing  over  $7,000,  and  fully  paid  for. 

In  September  1913,  the  Church  celebrated  its  Centennnial.  The  services  were  of  the  highest  order, 
having  gifted  local  speakers  and  speakers  of  renown  from  a distance.  It  is  a long,  long  way  marked  with 
privations  and  sacrifices  from  those  log  cabins  in  the  wilderness  to  our  modern  city  homes — from  the  log 
cabin  in  which  our  forefathers  worshipped  to  our  large  commodious  and  beautiful  structure  with  their 
cstly  equipment  and  appurtenances  in  which  we  worship. 

A grand-daughter  of  one  of  the  Charter  members  was  the  historian  of  the  Church  Centennial  ; Miss  Mary 
J.  Orbison,  and  it  is  from  her  we  receive  this  sketch. 


ROLLAND  BURWELL 


Rolland  Burwell  was  born  at  Bueno  Vista,  Scioto  County,  Ohio,,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  His  father  died  when  Rolland  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  after  which  the  son  became  the 
support  of  his  mother  to  whom  he  has  loyally  clung  and  with  whom  he  now  lives  in  their  pleasant  home 
in  Troy,  on  Grant  Street. 

His  mother,  Mary  A.  Murphy,  is  the  daughter  of  Recompense  Sherry  Murphy  of  Adams  County,  an 
extensive  farmer.  Her  mother  was  a Kelly  and  her  her  mother  was  a Bartley,  the  sister  of  Mordecai 
Bartley,  Governor  of  Ohio,  1844-46. 

Mr.  Burwell  is  a Knight  Templar,  Knight  of  Pythias;  of  the  Junior  Order  and  of  the  Troy  Club.  He 
worships  with  his  mother  at  the  First  Baptist  Church,  of  Troy. 

He  and  his  mother  came  to  Troy  in  1887  where  he  was  employed  by  T.  E.  Coles  and  Co.  in  the  hard- 
ware business  for  a period  of  eight  years,  after  which  period  he  attended  the  Miami  Commercial  College 
in  Dayton  and  then  entered  the  Court  House  as  a Deputy  Auditor  for  a period  of  two  years  and  then 
Deputy  Treasurer  of  Miami  County  for  six  years.  In  1910,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Miami  Co.  and 
served  for  two  terms  until  1914.  At  present,  he  is  engaged  in  the  sales  department  of  the  Troy  Wagon 
Works  who  have  a large  contract  for  supplying  motor  trucks  for  the  government  of  the  United  States 
to  be  used  in  our  war  against  Germany.  His^  uncle,  William  Murphy,  was  a captain  in  the  81  O.  V.  1. 
during  the  Civil  War  and  his  ancestors  are  of  Revolutionary  stock. 


GEORGE  CLARK  McGAVRAN 

Is  of  Scotch-Irish  stock  and  was  born  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  on  Feb.  18,  1887.  He  lived  with  his  father, 
Samuel  B,  and  his  mother,  Jennie  Johnston,  until  manhood  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cadiz.  He  was  married  to  Nellie  Geiger,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  on  April  21,  1909,  from  which  union  3 children 
have  been  born,  Mary  Louise  on  May  21,  1911  ; Harry,  March  7,  1913,  and  Hortense,  Feb.  17,  1916. 

Mr.  McGavran  came  to  Troy  on  March  13,  1911,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Troy  Wagon  Works, 
in  which  his  people  and  those  of  his  wife  are  stockholders.  He  is  the  final  inspector  of  that  flourishing 
corporation,  who  employ  some  four  hundred  men  in  the  manufacture  of  motor  trucks  for  the  government 
of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  McGavran  is  a Mason  and  worships  at  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

DR.  EUGENE  EDWIN  RUBEY 

An  American  by  birth,  was  born  at  Glenville,  Ky.,  on  Sept.  3,  1884,  and  lived  with  his  father,  John 
M.  Ruhey  and  his  mother  Kate  Wilhite  Rubey,  until  manhood.  He  was  educated  at  the  Lebanon  University 
and  received  the  degree  of  A.B.  and  B.S.,  also  the  University  of  Ind.,  with  the  degree  of  P.  G. 

He  was  married  to  Edna  M.  Conklin  on  August  23,  1911,  and  is  by  accupation  an  Osteopathic  physician, 
with  an  office  in  the  Masonic  building  in  Troy,  where  he  enjoys  a lucrative  practice  and  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

Osteopathy  was  discovered  in  1874  by  Dr.  Andrew  Taylor  Still.  He  made  his  discovery  while  living  in 
Baldwin,  Kansas,  but  finding  Kansas  an  unwelcome  field,  he  came  to  Kirksville,  Mo.,  where  he  established 
the  American  School  of  Osteopathy.  This  school  was  not  established,  however,  till  1892. 

It  was  through  years  of  study  that  Dr.  Still  evolved  this  science.  His  attention  had  been  directed  to 
some  of  the  facts  underlying  Osteopathy  when  he  was  a lad  ten  years  old.  One  day  when  suffering  from 
headache  he  made  a swing  of  his  father’s  plowlines  between  two  trees.  The  swing  was  eight  or  ten 
feet  from  the  ground.  Throwing  the  end  of  a blanket  over  the  swing,  he  lay  on  the  ground  and  used 
the  lines  under  his  head  as  a sort  of  a pillow.  In  a short  time  he  was  asleep,  and  when  he  awoke  his 
headache  was  gone.  He  never  forgot  the  experience.  So  in  later  years  he  worked  out  a complete  explana- 
tion for  it  as  the  result  of  his  unfolding  studies  in  Osteopathy. 

LEONARD  H.  SHIPMAN 

Was  born  of  American  parentage  in  St.  Marys,  Ohio,  on  October  23,  1874,  and  lived  with  his  father  and 
mother,  John  N.  and  Louisa  A.  Shipman,  until  manhood.  He  was  educated  in  the  high  school  of  St.  Marys, 
the  National  university  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  the  State  university  at  Columbus.'  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  came  to  Troy  and  entered  into  a successful  practice  from  the  beginning.  On  April  17,  1901,  he 
united  in  marriage  with  Jessie  G.  Shannon,  a daughter  of  Samuel  H.  Shannon  and  from  that  union  one 
child,  a son,  Franklin,  was  born,  who  is  ever  a welcome  guest  at  my  house. 

Mr.  Shipman  is  a member  of  the  First  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  Troy,  a member  of  the  official 
board,  a leader  in  all  of  its  activities.  He  is  a Scottish  rite  and  Knight  Templar  and  Subordinate  lodges 
Mason  and  a Knight  of  Pythias  He  has  been  the  city  solicitor  of  the  city  of  Troy  and  raises  apples  on  his 
ranch  in  the  state  of  Washington. 


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